Roger That - Flashback Fever

 

This is a fun one. Roger That's new album, Flashback Fever is a hard rocking album full of attitude. With big guitars, punchy songwriting and some big fat riffs, it's hard not to enjoy what Roger That bring to the table here. Clearly enamored with their influences, Roger That seamlessly drift from musically referencing everything from Bob Dylan to Thin Lizzy by way of James Brown. I'm not sure if I ever understood the phrase 'With gusto' before listening to this record, because if nothing else, Roger That has a LOT of gusto.

The melange is tried and true, and Roger That deliver on this classic mix with aplomb. It's funny, heavy and bizarrely addictive. Song topics range from pants to sex museums with a little bit of everything in between. This is by no means a comedy record, but Flashback Fever is certainly a record that will make you feel good. Roger That get the swagger that rock and roll needs to have, and while it may be over the top at times, it makes the record that much more delightful.

The guitar playing on this record particularly strikes me as special. The tasteful melodic lines cut nicely between vocal passages. The punchy riffing and arpeggiated rhythms draws you into a unique soundworld that is wholly their own. It makes the whole record feel like classic rock, even if some of the production roots the record firmly in 2024. Roger That are a blast to really get stuck in with, if you're looking for a rock band who understand the magic of the seventies without completely aping the decade, this is for you. And after all, how many rock songs are about pants? 

Get the album! 

https://teepeerecords.com/collections/frontpage/products/roger-that-flashback-fever-lp-yellow-vinyl-out-10-25-24

Of Virtue - Omen

Now this one is a stunner. I know I don't normally stray into the realm of radio hard rock on this blog, but every once in a while an album really impresses you and this is one of them. Of Virtue are truly talented songwriters, and the multilayered masterpiece that is Omen is certain to capture the imagination. This is heavy radio friendly hard rock done right. There are hardcore and metalcore frills, impressive performances across all instruments and a clear story behind each of the songs that helps to make this truly compelling. 

Omen is a stunner because of how elegantly it distills so many of the undercurrents in the world of rock right now and manage to draw listeners in with the deeply impressive songwriting that defines this music. What makes this record such a delight to listen too is the depth of the production. The record has so many layers and the mixing job is some of the best I've heard all year. There is a very clear vision for the sound of this band and every one of these twelve tracks helps to build into that. It's hard to wrap your head around a band who are this level of talented and able to craft bombastic, far reaching songs that remain thrilling for the everyman. 

Of Virtue are a force to be reckoned with. Omen consistently proves that they are in a league of their own and witnessing them bring these songs to life is a delight. They understand what drives hard rock in 2023 and Omens is a veritable tour de force of all that it could, and should be. Of Virtue can't help but to thrill listeners and digging in deep to their compositions is certain to leave you too in awe of what's been crafted here.

Pre-order the album!

https://arisingempire.com/ofvirtue

Magick Touch - Cakes & Coffins

Cakes & Coffins is an interesting name for a record, but one that certainly seems to fit the times. The band set out recording this album with the intent of  going darker and more occult, efforts that largely come through in the music. While Magick Touch's brand of hard rock seemed to previously focus on good times and partying, Cakes & Coffins is a surprising shift for the erstwhile party animals, but one that they have pulled off with aplomb. The good times are over, and now Magick Touch are unleashing a soundtrack for the end of the world. 

Magick Touch shine on this album when they really lean into the more 'righteous' aspects of their sound. When it comes down to it, this is a record that showcases some monster songwriters dealing 70s rock god tropes with skill. The music is bombastic and exciting, and while some moments may feel a bit over the top, one quickly realizes that this is just what Magick Touch do, it's a key part of their magic and certain to keep fans of the underground fascinated with their unique twists, turns and visions that help to make this whole thing so addictive in the first place. It's hard rock done with a hard partying attitude and one that underground fans will fall in love with again and again.

There is something wonderfully fun about what Magick Touch have done on Cakes & Coffins. It's a record that increasingly impresses listeners with its vision and the quality of the songwriting is certain to get heads turning. Cakes & Coffins is a rock and rollers dream come true. Magick Touch have a clear passion for classic rock magick and it's hard not to be enamored with the vision that they bring to the table time and time again. This is hard rock done with a classic flair and those of us who are enamored with that scene will find ourselves inexorably drawn back to what's been done here!

Pre-order the album!

https://edgedcircleproductions.bandcamp.com/album/cakes-coffins

Mick's Jaguar - Salvation

Mick's Jaguar have long been one of my favorite NYC heavy rock bands. Their new record, Salvation builds on the potent legacy of their 2018 debut Fame And Fortune. This is gritty, grimy rock and roll done with a sneer. The album art, with its depiction of copulation horses on a foggy middle-American farm speaks to the bands sound in a weirdly profound way. This is a distinctly American brand of rock and roll delivered with a bitter sense of irony. There is something to get lost in here, a sense of vintage rock magic few of the bands peers can really conjure up.

 Salvation is a really fun record any way you slice it. The intermix between male and female vocals, the bluesy guitar solos, the pumping rhythm section, it all comes together to make something that makes you want to raise your arms in the air and get lost in. There is a real sense of fun to the record that I think a lot of modern rock forgets. You don't have to be moody, you can just write songs about rocking, rolling and having a good time. Of course - there is some deep emotion conjured up on this record, often revolving around the bitter misery of life in a gritty city. 

This record is a blast. At its best its a potent statement of all that American rock and roll can be with its flashy solos, sense of swagger and larger than life lyrics. This is a record that is unapologetic in its hagiography of a previous generation of rock and roll, but that's exactly what makes it such a fun listen and has nerds like me coming back eagerly for more. While this offering is certainly nostalgic, sometimes that's what you need, and hearing Mick's Jaguar deliver this at a wonderfully high level with a very 2022 approach is addictive.

Pre-order the album!

https://orcd.co/micks_jaguar

Bokassa - Molotov Rocktail

Ever since I first saw Bokassa back at Eurosonic in the beginning of 2020, I've been completely obsessed with this band. Their unique brand of hard rock is addictive and powerful, the sort of thing that really speaks to the enduring power of hard rock and great production. Molotov Rocktail is a poetic and exciting offering, a record that soars through your ears and speaks to the enduring magic of heavy music. Molotov Rocktail is a masterful offering, a record that speaks to just how good the guys in Bokassa really are. 

Outside of the absolutely stellar songwriting, the thing that will really get you about this record is the message of the lyrics. Throughout Molotov Rocktail Bokassa rail against the evils of corporatism, cancel culture and the degeneracy they see in our society. Their execution is thrilling, and even when they break from these themes, as they do on the party rock anthem 'Low (and Behold)' they find ways to push these elements to bold new heights. It's a delight to really immerse yourself in the highly politicized, rocking and rolling universe of Bokassa. When you blast this record you are suddenly one of the guys and part of something greater. 

Bokassa are a special band. They have an understanding of how to write rock music that basically all of their peers lack. When they want to party, they party hard. When they get political, they are incisive. When they want to be heavy... well few are heavier. Molotov Rocktail is a record that can't help but to excite and which continually drives the band to new heights. Lose yourself in its magic and you are going to find yourself fully immersed in a unique soundworld that excites listeners and leaves you begging for more.

Pre-order the album!

https://bokassa.probitymerch.com/

Mads Christensen - 5212 Helevete

Now this is an interesting one. Mads Christensen is a hard rock band who pull from a diverse array of influences to craft music that is playful and powerful. 5212 Helvete is a rock album that sees some pretty known names in the Norwegian scene come together to bring a level of hard hitting rock and roll potency that rarely unveils itself in this day and age. Mads Christensen gleefully experiment with all manner of diverse and fun hard rocking ideas. It's the sort of over the top craziness that helps to make this music so rewarding in the first place. 

I think the thing that really fascinates me about Mads Christensen is their songwriting. While it's ostensibly hard rock they pretty gleefully take on elements of black metal, punk, dance and pop. The sound though does not feel like a hodgepodge. Instead it's just a natural extension of who the folks in the band are and seems to really just point them towards ever bolder and more exciting futures. Mads Christensen really grasps the raw energy rock needs to have but also the creativity behind it that makes it really work, when they lean into this they are at their best, as on songs like 'Are You Ready To Die' which showcases the band at their finest. 

Mads Christensen has really proven themselves to be a talented band on 5212 Helvete. It sees them executing at a high level and bringing in a range of influences that you rarely hear come together in order to craft a cohesive and exciting offering. Mads Christensen have a deep understanding of this music and it's hard not to be entranced at what they are crafting. Immerse yourself in the magic and prepare to see the potent rock and roll magic of the other side. This is quite possibly the future for us all.

Pre-order the album!

 https://edgedcircleproductions.com/mads-christensen/

Trillionaire - Romulus

If there's one good thing to have come of COVID it's the seemingly endless side projects and collaborations coming out that probably would never have materialized otherwise. Trillionaire is one such project where massive amounts of talent have come to release something that one might not have expected these collaborators to do. It's not what you might expect from current and former members of Inter Arma, Revocation, KEN Mode and A Fucking Elephant but it sure is good! It's beautifully produced and certainly worth many a listen. 

Their debut album, Romulus is a brilliantly put together and elegant piece of modern rock. It's interesting because while the musicians are clearly great players you can't really hear elements of their other bands in the sound. In fact in some ways this record seems to be almost a rejection of that pointing towards an entirely different future. But that's what makes Trillionaire so appealing, it's an unexpected offering, but its big choruses and layered guitars actually add to the magic. I love when things subvert expectations and show you unique new sides of the artists involved. While this collaboration certainly is subversive it's also one that can't help but to capture the imagination. 

There are a lot of layers on this offering and devout listeners will find themselves endlessly unpacking the layers within. Romulus is an intense record that requires a few listens to really get. While there are certainly trappings of mainstream rock the guys are clearly not afraid to get into more intense and weird territories. The end result is something exciting and interesting that you're going to want to lose yourself in - there is just simply so much to love. How could you not let yourself get immersed in these golden waves of sound? 

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/trillionaireband

Roger That! - Mucho Gusto

 

Since moving to London I've definitely missed my old Brooklyn stomping grounds. That's what makes it such a weird delight to be delving into the power pop debut of Roger That! A band made up of all manner of old time NYC scene heads. Their debut album, Mucho Gusto is a goddamn blast, full of punchy grooves, big choruses and general celebrations of life, even in an era where we are all suffering, searching for a way out of the present pandemic predicament. Perhaps Roger That! don't have the answers, but they can make us feel good anyway. 

What really gets me about Mucho Gusto is how often it is simply brimming with swagger. The level of magic that they bring to the table and the raw fun of tracks like 'Long Long Gone' is delightful. Roger That! may not be breaking any particularly new ground, but who doesn't want to retread some old favorites every now and again? Mucho Gusto is the sound of rock and roll triumph, the eternal promise of New York rock and roll coming home to roost in loud guitars and belted vocals. There is something strangely comforting about this album. It seeks to prove that even through the darkest moments and most difficult struggles we'll still have rock and roll. 

So join me in the rock and roll revelry of this band. It's the sort of straight up four on the floor stuff that anyone can really sink their teeth into and become enchanted with. Mucho Gusto is a rare treat for rock and rollers of all stripes. It leans nicely into tropes we've all been charmed with and the more time you spend with it the more clear it is that this is what NYC rock was always meant to be about. Big hooks, exciting choruses and a sense that things are going to always work out alright. Turn it up - this band is a blast. 

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/kenjeremystevepaul/

Starcrazy - Played For Suckers

Young rock and rollers who have the support of Alice Cooper and play hard rock of the 70s and 80s? Yeah I'm in. The Australian boys in Starcrazy are some wild rockers whose debut EP is, after a weak intro, 20 minutes of rock and roll fun. This is a band who really understand the beating heart of rock and roll and execute in a truly impressive way. There are no bland stoner riffs or corny odes to times forgot here. Starcrazy's debut Played For Suckers is just focused on tight riffs and angular playing ensuring every track is a balls out rock and roll blast!

First and foremost I think one needs to understand just how good frontman Marcus Fraser is. His voice is absolutely massive. The rest of the band is certainly good, but it's Fraser's golden pipes that really lift things up. That being said the production on this record is goddamn fabulous. The bands brand of rock and roll has some gorgeous frills and tight playing that allows for a distinct and gorgeous multi layered approach. While there are certainly more than a few tropes brought to the fore, they execute on them well. They have a clear sense of fun throughout and one gets a sense of just how genuine that Starcrazy really are about what they are doing. 

Played For Suckers is a fun and potent EP that showcases a band with a boatload of talent. While I have yet to have that 'holy shit' moment with the band I can practically taste it. They are so close to pushing things over the top and it's going to be such a delight when the band reach the next level that they are so close to achieving. This is what rock and roll was meant to be about - young guys doing their best to drive over the top and capture the imagination. Are you ready to dive into the magic with these freaked out rockers? I certainly am. 

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/starcrazyband

Pre-order the EP!

Electric Hydra - S/T

 

You've got to love a heavy rock band who are focused on invoking the power of the 70s. I feel like so often rock bands these days are lacking in sheer bombast. Fortunately - Electric Hydra more than compensate for this with a dynamic and exciting new album. Electric Hydra is a thriller with big choruses, meaty riffs, and a sense of rock and roll freedom that helps to make the entire experience that much more enjoyable. This is a band who understand the beating heart of rock and roll and I can't help but to admire it. 

Not only are there lplemty of burly Clutch-esque riffs, but the band also leans into guitar solos, layered production and tight song structures that leave you wanting more. Sure things get a bit tropey here and there, and yes a few songs could be cut down, but as a general rule, this is a really fun little record that reflects the quality of releases their label Tee Pee Records has become known for putting out. It's such a delight to lose yourself in these big riffs and to embrace the layers of hard rock ferocity that make a song like 'End Of Days' so good. The guitars are huge, and the amount of work that went into perfectly arranging the tracks is palpable. 

The point being, Electric Hydra practically demands multiple listens. This is a band who have a very clear and deep understanding of the genre. There is a tangible magic to their execution and it's a pleasure to pick apart the various layers of what they have done here. The grandiose vision and thoughtful compositions make for a record that is exciting, interesting and constantly pushing the listener to delve even deeper. Electric Hydra have managed to go above and beyond here. Who knows what the future will hold for these hard rockers?

Pre-order now!

https://electrichydra.bandcamp.com/album/electric-hydra

Warlung - Optical Delusions

We are now ten years into the Age Of Ghost. They first burst into popular consciousness in 2010, now they are kings in the scene. It thus stands to reason that bands are starting to distill that sound into interesting new directions. Such is the case with Warlung whose horror infused brand of classic rock and roll captures the imagination. Their dominance on this record is exciting. Few young bands have this same sense of presence that Warlung so elegantly execute on and delving deep into their distinct and exciting music is a rare treat indeed. 

It's easy to get lost in these songs, and the sheer level of musicianship is very impressive. Tracks like 'The Scorpion In The Sand' with its gratuitous cowbell are thrilling. The band eagerly leans into classic rock elements, but they are filtered through years of experience and listening. Creating music with the benefit of hindsight always leads to exciting new possibilities. As a side note - if there was another band I'd compare these guys too who wasn't Ghost it would be Howling Giant. Both bands share a similar level of songwriting eloquence. The skill level is also similar and when layered with vocal harmonies it becomes truly transcendent. 

I honestly don't feel Warlung have reached their full potential yet. This record reads like a resume of all they can do, but I want to see them go further, to evolve this sound and to reach a bold new level with it all.  There are a lot of exciting layers to what's going on here and I'm eager to keep sinking my teeth into this band. They give you so many layers to unpack on Optical Delusions it certainly merits listen after listen. Warlung understand how to reward devout listeners, now it's just on you to decide if you're willing to take the plunge!

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/WARLUNGBAND/

Mad Dogs - We Are Ready To Testify

C'mon - the band had an MC5 reference in the album name! How could I say no to reviewing them? Mad Dogs new record We Are Ready To Testify is a simply masterful offering that will capture the imagination and elevate the band to bold new levels. This is a record that is brilliantly put together and it's hard not to fall in love with what they have done here. It's a blast of garage rock like few other bands can conjure up and it's done with a real sense of earnestness and aplomb.

It's hard not to be charmed by the all out rock and roll assault found in tracks like 'No Regrets'. While there certainly are moments here or there that drag ('Not Waiting' could be a fair bit shorter) as a general rule, Mad Dogs are a blast to listen too. The guitar sorcery and big choruses are guaranteed to get fists pumping, no matter what you do. We Are Ready To Testify is magical in its execution because it understands the fundamental fun of rock and roll. It communicates that this is a blissful music that will save the soul and leave us all better off for it. Garage rock like this doesn't happen much anymore - but it's a blast to catch when it does. 

We Are Ready To Testify is an exciting listen. The way that the band continue to execute and the sheer energy they bring to the table makes for some potent stuff. With fists in the air and danceable rhythms galore, Mad Dogs perpetually showcase that they are among the best and the brightest flames in rock today. Go Down Records has really found a gem with this one and I think that fans of The Hellacopters or Radio Birdman will be sinking their teeth into this band and reveling in the fun for years and years to come. 

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/maddogsrnr/

The King's Pistol - Rip It Up

Isn't it great when rock and roll is actually fun? The blokes in The King's Pistol would certainly seem to agree! Their new record, Rip It Up is a six track blast of rock and roll brilliance. It's full of swagger, excitement and raw energy. This is a band who understand the beating heart of the genre and are unleashing something that really resonates and is more than just another stale ministration of 'riffs bro.' This record has it all, lightning speed guitar licks, big choruses and a sense that everything could fall apart at the seams at any moment counterbalanced with the knowledge that it never will.

Ultimately it feels like in 2020 there are fewer and fewer bands that truly rock. Fewer bands who are constantly pushing at the limits of their ability and trying to get your body quaking and ass shaking. Fortunately we have bands like The Kings Pistols here to break through the noise and remind us that the living breathing heart of rock and roll will keep growing, profiligating and remaining exciting. This is a band who lean big into late 70s hard rock glory, but their execution is so good it never feels corny. Or at least when it's corny it's served with a nudge and a wink, that this is the magic of hard rock brought back to life, for a few songs at least.

Rip It Up is a blast. It roars with Iggy Pop-esque energy and has a Thin Lizzy bombast. Not a lot of bands can be this fun without leaning into the schlock factor. The fact that The King's Pistol are able to execute on their high energy brand of rock with aplomb only makes it better. This is another great signing for Majestic Mountain Records and a huge step forward for the band. You'll find yourself singing along from the first listen and looking forward to repeat spins - it's simply that good you guys. Jam it.

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/thekingspistol/

Limousine Beach - Stealin' Wine +2

Woah this record is a whole lot of fun. Though Limousine Beach's debut EP, Stealin' Wine+2 is a mere seven inch they pump their music full of hard rock tropes that can't help but to capture the imagination. Sure Limousine Beach aren't moving the needle, but they are just so fun to listen too. This is good times rock and roll coming through in a time that is extremely bad for most of us. There is something strangely comforting about the summer drenched magic of this record as we head into what will be the weirdest summer of our loves.

How can you not have a blast as you shake, rattle and roll your way through bangers like 'Tiny Hunter'? this is rock and roll that draws on the late 70s magic of groups like Van Halen, the Sweet and even KISS. Of course the record remains distinctly 2020, with clear flavors of bands like Sheer Mag seeping through as well. Kicking off the record with the multi part harmony of 'Stealin' Wine' is ballsy to say the least, but that's just par for the course with these dancey hard rock visionaries. It's a blast to sit back, do a shot and then dance your ass off to the very silly and over the top magic of Limousine Beach.

So who doesn't want to dance and get their jollies with the magic of Stealin' Wine +2? The title track is literally about stealing wine from the first class on an airplane. Limousine Beach understand the decadent magic of rock and roll and they turn it up to 11. Sure they only do it across three tracks, but if it was more it wouldn't be as infinitely replayable. Anytime you need a blast of good times though, why not just take this and crank it? Limousine Beach know how to have a good time. After all, 'First class is just a state of mind!'

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/limousinebeach/

High Spirits - Hard To Stop

I've been following High Spirits for a while now. I feel like I even saw the hard rockers back in the day. That being said this new record, Hard To Stop is an interesting step for the band. This is a record that has much more of a power metal feel than previous offerings. Hell, there's even a song on here that's basically pop punk! It's not necessarily what I expected from a band who operated more on traditional hard rock tropes in the past, but it's a lot of fun to listen too as everything is wonderfully polished and nicely executed.

What really gets me about hard rock is the depth of the production. Tracks like 'We Are Everywhere revel in multiple sonic layers, one further along than the next. It's really interesting to listen too come together and constantly elevates the band. As a general rule this is one of the most high powered releases from High Spirits to date. That just means this is perhaps the most fun record from the band yet. I don't think I've heard a record before though that can conceivably point to both Hammerfall and Yellowcard as significant influences. This is just what makes it so fun to dig into though. Yes some of these blends are a little bit silly, but that's what keeps me coming back. It's not supposed to be the most serious thing ever.

Hard To Stop is an album that is hard to stop wanting to listen too.With it High Spirits have dramatically upped their game, and proven that they are among the most talented songwriters in hard rock today. As you find yourself dancing to Hard To Stop you'll realize that something greater has taken place here. High Spirits will put you in High Spirits with high energy, high voltage rock and roll. This is music that captures the imagination and elevates the entire dialog around the band. Who knows where they'll end up next?

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/highenergyrock

Mandown - We Want Blood

This is an interesting one. It's heavy rock that borders on the transcendent. Not because of airy keyboards or gorgeous production (Though the production is excellent) but because the band is simply that honest. There is a raw and frantic magic to We Want Blood, and as Mandown guide you through just over ten minutes of rock and roll madness you will find that you want blood too. Yeah, there's a radio rock side to it, but Mandown lean into it, in fact that's a big part of what makes them so much fun.

We Want Blood is an inherently exciting release. This duo are driven forward by blasting drums and quasi shouted vocals. The strange reverberations that give breadth and vision to the EP's opening track, 'Try Or Die', only adds to the hard rocking magic of what's done here. Mandown stick to tried and true heavy rock tropes throughout, infusing stoner and groove metal riffs with a healthy punk energy. The primordial rhythms and pulsating vibes that define this album remind us that fundamentally rock and roll is about letting out the beast within. That's exactly what makes it so fun and so meaningful even after all this time.

Mandown drive towards the beating heart of rock and roll with We Want Blood, and though this offering is only a few minutes long it fills me with hope for what could come from these crazed English rockers. You're going to be fist pumping and bellowing along all night to a band who grasp the simple beauty of heavy rock music and who continually remind us that this is why we got into this stuff in the first place. Mandown are masterful, who are we to deny the simple magic of their existence?

Find them on Facebook!
www.facebook.com/MandownFB

Magick Touch - Heads Have Got To Rock 'N' Roll

I've been really charmed by Magick Touch for a while now. There is a certain magic to the bands unique take on Scandinavian hard rock that has always made them a boatload of fun to me. This is a band who understand why people listen to rock and roll and really deliver on some of the fundamental promises of the genre. Be it through dance rockers or the stoned grooves of 'Doomsday I'm In Love', Magick Touch consistently prove that they are among the greats - a band whose magic you can't ignore.

This is a band who are clearly enamored with late 70s hard rock. There are glam vibes but also moments of blues rock magic. The group come across with raging high energy though and it's hard not to be immediately forced to dance. How can you not want to shake your ass to the title track? There are massive choruses throughout this record and the guitar is played with a sort of inherent swagger. What more could someone want out of a band looking to broadcast true rock and roll salvation to the masses?

Magick Touch are a lot of fun to spend time with and Heads Have Got To Rock 'N' Roll proves that these cats have still got it. Four years and three full lengths in Magick Circle have made a compelling case that they are among the best at hard rock today. The guitar solos are fun, the vibes energetic and overall there is a sense of hope, triumph and the knowledge that some how and some way we are going to make it through the coronavirus struggle so come on and dive right into hard hitting heavy rocking magic!

Find them on Facebook!
www.facebook.com/magicktouch

Night - High Tides - Distant Skies

While listening to this album for  the first time I texted Night's PR person, 'This band is corny  as hell, but I love them'. And it's true. The Judas Priest and Saxon obsessed silliness of Night can be a bit much to take on initially, but once you get going with it it becomes clear that their new record High Tides - Distant Skies is a whole boatload of fun. This is a band after all who go for the throat and fascinate the listener with their clear headed sonic assault and vision of a bolder, and harder rocking future.

With big choruses and falsettos dominating standouts like 'Give Me To The Night' this is a much more European take on the American NWOTHM thing. Night in fact join their legions of their peers, many on their same label, The Sign Records as bands looking to bring back classic metal and delivering fun and high powered music that you can't help but to be fascinated by. These songs are big, passionate and fun. Building on the promise of acts like Cauldron, Night are driven forward by a strange sort of fantasy of endless rock and roll youth. It's a little bit crazy but it's also a whole boatload of fun.

I think a lot of us are going to find something to be enchanted in with Night. Sure some of their ideas are a little bit hokey but that's kind of the point. Just look at their press pictures. What they have done here is create a record that you can sing along too while roaring down the highway. In some ways isn't that supposed to be the end state of rock and roll? Isn't that the dream? So join me in a flurry of guitarmonies and dive into the latest from Night a band who understand the truly over the top magic of rock and roll.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/nightbandofficial/

Datcha Mandala - Hara

A lot of y'all talk about loving classic rock ad wanting to make music like that but really aren't executing like it. This is what I love about Datcha Mandala - they are a band who have listened to the classics, digested them and now are doing some truly exciting stuff within the form. They have straight up stoner rockers to be sure, but they also have tracks like 'Morning Song' which belies a real passion for Crosby, Stills and Nash. If that isn't enough to start to win you over - I don't really know what is.

With some truly excellent production work courtesy of Clive Martin (Queen, Tom Yorke, The Cure) the band has been able to elevate their game to the next level. They have crafted their songwriting in a way that is exciting and engaging. These are anthems that can blur the line between classic pop and noise rock. They show that the band has a wonderful understanding of songwriting. The overall flow of the record is such that moments of chaos are counterbalanced with 70s rock bliss. It's a wild ride but one that is well worth taking many times over. Datcha Mandala are just playing in a league that is largely their own.

I simply love falling deep into the mystical pit of this record. They have bouncy riffs and huge vocals. Yet they don't sound like a throwback band, even if their influences seem to be largely drawn from the 70s. Instead, Hara sees the band crafting music that, while very much inspired by 70s artists is still informed by 2020 and shows that the guys have been consuming new material and evolving it into strange new paths. Its a blast to sink your teeth into this record that hints at a bold future for the band.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/datchamandala/

Dictator Ship - Your Favorites

It's amazing to me how may truly great rock ad roll bands are coming out of Sweden right now. The Sign Records seems determined to sign as many of them as possible to their excellent label too! It's truly thrilling to dive into each record they serve up, the latest being the wonderful Your Favorites from Dictator Ship. The band unleash rock and roll fury here on a record recorded on eight tracks. It makes for an album that is fresh and raw, the sort of over the top rock and roll magic that you can't help but to love.

There is a sense of pure charisma behind Your Favorites that makes it infinitely relistenable. Recorded in a cabin in the woods, the band seeks to recapture the magic of 70s rock, and with every member of this quarter providing vocals at some point, they largely do. This is a band who shake, rattle and roll their way to victory time and time again. Though this record plays out across a mere 27 minutes, its brevity is in fact a strength, ensuring that the band stay fresh and wild, a fitting reminder about the everlasting magic of rock and roll - no matter what the posers might say. It's hard to listen to this and not be having a good time!

There are few bands who come into it with as much swagger as Dictator Ship. This is a record that knows just how silly it is and which eagerly dances over the top. With bellowing vocals and punchy guitar playing ,devotees to the underground are not going to be let down as they get take non a journey back to some of the highlights of 70s rock. Danceable, silly and more than enough fun to capture the imagination Your Favorites is going to leave you scraping your jaw off the floor in awe of all that is and ever shall be.

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https://www.facebook.com/dictatorship/