Ghost Town Riders blends a vast mix of influences from American music (Country, Rap, Blues, Rock, and Spaghetti Westerns) and a visual aesthetic from the classical cinema of the 1920s (Chaplin, Buster Keaton). The lead single, “Poison”, showcases Perro del Kaos in his best musical form with a long dynamic music video that samples a couple of video sequences from Buster Keaton’s iconic movie The General. Perro del Kaos plans to debut a live show with the album during the spring and fall of 2025.
Blackberry Crush has recently joined the roster of Denver DIY label Mean World Records, and will be releasing a new EP this spring/summer. The band is beginning to tour and open for more touring acts, and hopes to continue to grow this year.
Though Got Head? is this Albany, NY punk foursome’s fourth album, it’s their first of new material in 27 years. But despite the long layoff, they’re tighter and even more propulsive now, with veteran hardcore producer Don Fury giving them a crisp, dynamic edge.
PORTRAITS is “accessible, smart music” (Pascal Bouquillard, Clair et Obscur) by Jack O’ The Clock, “perhaps the foremost modern dark Americana outfit” (Mike Borella, Avant Music News). It is a re-imagining of an album founding members Emily Packard and Damon Waitkus recorded back in the summer of 2003. The album features the original rhythm and violin tracks, bringing new lyrics, vocals, and an array of other overdubs by present band members Kate McLoughlin and Victor Reynolds.
Delivering brash “big pick energy,” band YACOVELLI’s debut single “Red Eye” soars with a chunky Neo-Grunge swagger reminiscent of DIY punk predecessors Nirvana and The New York Dolls. An anti-anthem for social media driven travel culture, the song taunts at and celebrates the jet-setting lifestyle and the illusion that the singer’s airbrushed life at 40,000 feet is picture perfect. With stacks of gritty guitars and gritty vocals, produced by frontman and New York underground fixture Alex Yacovelli, the soaring hooks will “take [you] away!”
Nashville-based alternative pop/rock artist Zëta Ræ, the genre-bending brainchild of Hannah Schmeling, unveils her latest single, “Stay”. A vulnerable track devoted to the feelings of acceptance, insecurity, and the fearless self-expression that comes with falling in love, demonstrated through her introspective lyricism and grunge-inspired vocals.
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Johnny Vitulli delivers a heartfelt ode to his roots with his latest single, “Bronx Love.” Blending sentimental yet uplifting indie-pop melodies with evocative storytelling, the track captures the stark contrasts of the Bronx—where struggle and resilience, chaos and inspiration, exist side by side.
With “The Siren,” MatAre steps away from his usual introspective themes to tell a tale of fascination and danger lurking beneath the waves. The post-punk vibe of the track, infused with elements of new wave and goth rock, showcases MatAre’s versatility as an artist. Recorded in Jacksonville, Florida in 2023 and finalized in December 2024, the recording process itself was a unique experience, with vocals captured on the beach at night to capture the essence of the song. MatAre’s upcoming album promises to further showcase his evolution as an artist, with “The Siren” standing out as a mesmerizing preview of what’s to come.
Young minimalists avoid the second-album blues.
The former Sony/BMG and WATANABE songwriter Tom Tikka is back with a new offering from his upcoming album, Room Full of Strangers. The new single, titled “The Day I Found You”, will come out on February 7, 2025. The song was written by Tom Tikka and produced by his trusty brother-in-arms, Janne Saksa.
Being Jane Lane is an all-female punk band from Brisbane. Heavy punk power and melodic energy, catchy riffs and vocals that move from majestic anthemic highs through to face tearing.
“The Girl with No Tattoo” by Nathaniel Paul is a heartfelt anthem celebrating individuality in a world of ink. Inspired by his wife’s choice to stay tattoo-free, Nathaniel’s soulful single challenges societal norms, resisting homogeny, and embracing the beauty of being unapologetically yourself—tattooed or not. Available now on all streaming platforms!
If Eric Schroeder’s last full-length record, Turned On the Stereo, felt like a jagged collison of heartache, betrayal, existential angst, and nervous energy, Cat’s Game is a full-throttle blast of cleansing, cathartic clarity. This time, Schroeder knows exactly what he wants: all-electric instrumentation, shorter songs, and more robust, unapologetic sounds.
Formed in 2000 by singer/guitarist Dennis Mitchell and guitarist Craig Stahr, this Portland, OR outfit is joined on this fifth LP by bassist Scott San Filippo and drummer Curt Schulz, who markedly tighten up their sound over 2017’s Another Moment in Time.
Austin, TX quartet Frogmouth has been bringing high-energy, hook-filled alternative rock to the stage since 2022. Set to release their debut full-length LP on March 21st, 2025, Frogmouth is ready to take things to the next level. The maturity in musicianship shows across the nine tracks on their upcoming release, Identity Thief, offering a different brand of alternative rock than what’s currently on the scene.
Miss Georgia Peach is back following 2022’s Aloha From Kentucky with sophomore solo country release Class Out The Ass on Rum Bar Records February 14th, 2025 giving 14 tracks to sing, jump, shake and shout along to in classic country tradition covering the 50’s through the 70’s. Recorded and mixed by Brian Pulito at Horse City Hit Club, Lexington KY, Produced and arranged by Travis Ramin, Class Out The Ass features all star players who grew up on country, played in punk and hard rock bands Nashville Pussy and Nine Pound Hammer, and have come back to make their Own Country Music thought that filter.
It’s been a good few years for: singer/songwriter/producer/remixer Julian Shah-Tayler aka The Singularity. He is currently very proud to be working with the legendary Mike Garson (David Bowie), David J (Bauhaus), Carmine Rojas (Bowie), Alain Whyte (Morrissey) and Robert Margouleff (Stevie Wonder/ Devo) on his next originals album Honne/Tatame. He has just finished executive producing the Aladdin Sane 50th anniversary cover album Forget that I’m 50 with special guests including Gene Loves Jezebel, Human Drama and Beck Black among many others.
Born in Canada to French parents, Elea lived in Hemmingford until age 5 when her family moved to Dharamsala, India for her father to pursue Tibetan medicine studies. She subsequently spent a few years in the south of France before moving to Bristol, UK at 16 to study music. Releasing a string of singles, “Lust”, “Trigger” and “Sacrifice”, to critical acclaim in her idiosyncratically “towering sound reminiscent of PJ Harvey and Feist”, she was touted as “a millennial Patti Smith”. Albeit being Gen Z, she decided not to correct the journalist for the (hopefully only partly) erroneous compliment.
Formed in London in 2023, Sons of Martha is an indie rock band channeling notes of R.E.M., The Smiths, and the Go-Betweens, but with a definite hard edge. Featuring Josh Beach on vocals, Tim Buckland on guitar, Stephen Morgan playing wonderful bass lines, King Otto on keys, and Steven Spencer on drums.
POVDiG!’s three members met as colleagues in game development offices. Al King, an avid guitarist, journalist, DJ and radio host, marketing specialist, cyclist, and traveler, plays all guitars. Ivan Drybas, a professionally trained conductor, singer, pianist, artist, and sculptor, plays most of the keyboards. Eugene Smozhevsky, songwriter, producer, and artist, plays bass and Chapman stick while operating groove boxes. “Cloud Maze” is the first piece that went the entire route from “a recorded jam session” to “finished track.” It starts slowly but rewards with an ever-growing build-up, culminating in pulsating, powerful peak run with a solo on top.
New release is the stoner rock take on Napoleon’s obsession with power and Josephine. It bursts with high Punk Rock energy! The song offers a dramatic and almost ironic take on the price of greatness. Fun fact: the producer is a guy from Uzbekistan – pretty unique, right? This song appears to delve into the larger-than-life persona of Napoleon Bonaparte, portraying him as a driven, ruthless, and ambitious figure willing to do anything for his beloved Josephine.
LOMENS, a band hailing from various parts of West Yorkshire, formed in April 2023. After having spent their first year relentlessly writing, rehearsing, and crafting a sound in their own studio (Green Door Music), LOMENS finally released their first single, “Twisted Alive,” in August 2024 and then followed up with their second single, “The Art of Acceptance” one month later. The band then went on to release their third single “Pieces (Of Me)” to coincide with the announcement of their first headline show at local venue The Parish, Huddersfield in January 2025.
Tidal Water is the brainchild of Martin Hovden, a passionate vocalist, songwriter, and producer from Oslo, Norway. Martin, the primary visionary and financial backer, infuses his deep societal concerns and personal experiences into Tidal Water’s music. His background in project management and event production enables him to bring a unique blend of powerful rock music to life, enhanced by the collaboration of talented friends from his musical journey.
Tim Ainslie’s latest single, “Oyster Reach”, takes listeners on a nostalgic journey through the rich history and folklore of his native Suffolk, UK, drawing inspiration from a riverside pub that has witnessed centuries of change. With evocative storytelling and vivid imagery, Tim captures the essence of a time when oyster beds thrived along the river, celebrating the pub’s origins that date back to 1612.
Grab your trusty mop and bucket, crank up the volume to ten and listen to “The Mess I Made.” London Town’s finest power pop punk alt trio Barking Poets release their first single of 2025. Hot on the heels of previous single “Arizona” Barking Poets are set to release their tasty new number titled “The Mess I Made”.
“Cold Outside” is a chilled track with emotional vocals and a catchy guitar riff. The track builds and adds soaring strings, sax and synth elements. It is universally loved and had a lot of attention since being selected by BBC Radio.
Singer-songwriter Andriana Lehr is rebirthing herself with a new moniker – Mother Coyote – and a new set of songs written and informed by the immense personal and collective changes experienced in recent years. Created with jack-of-all-trades producer Andy Thompson (Dessa, Semisonic, Belle and Sebastian, Jeremy Messersmith Taylor Swift and much more, When The War Comes, the first EP bearing the Mother Coyote name, combines Lehr’s detailed eye for universal storytelling with monumental, brooding soundscapes built specifically for these trying times.
Anxiety Attack, hailing from Tampa, Florida, United States, is a dynamic band heavily influenced by the likes of The Story So Far, Chunk! No Captain Chunk!, Blink 182, Sum 41, and Saosin. Their music captures the raw emotions of youth, drawing from personal experiences of loss and heartbreak, creating a sound that resonates deeply with listeners.
The album is bound by the chemistry of singer/guitarist Eliza Neiman-Golden, drummer Sam Seymour, and bassist Ethan Gould, who recorded the songs live. Their voices weave in and out of each other while their instruments lock tightly together. It’s an album filled equally with angst and hooks, songs that will make you cry and dance.
This is the first of a half dozen songs this Bay Area based “Bob Dylan with flatted fifths” has recorded with two time Grammy winning producer/arranger Argentine native Nahuel Bronzini (Mixing Engineer, Fantastic Negrito) and his musical counterpart from Chile, Felipe Ubeda (aka Cigarbox Man). After watching Bronzini record a string quartet at an edition of the Music Expo conference, Phillips initially got in touch with him to score a version of his song “Sunday is Made for Loving” that had been covered by alt-pop artist Samantha Margret. But E.G. had always had in mind to do a more in depth project.
SickRichard, hailing from London, England, is a dynamic musical force led by Sam Cuthbertson on lead vocals and guitars, supported by Ed Bernier on bass, live synth, and backing vocals, along with Steve Ramondt on drums and percussion. The band’s formation in 2016/17 through bandmix.com underscores their commitment to crafting a unique sound that draws on influences from iconic bands like Joy Division, The Cure, and Nine Inch Nails.
Night’s Cross is a fascinating contemplation of death and loss that is neither morbid nor depressing. Instead it uplifts with artistic daring, using a wide range of styles and genres, swirled together, to convey human nobility in the face of mortality and fragility. And it’s good blues/rock/folk.
Liverpool Alt/Rock/Folk band Thomas Bradley Project is a cohort of skilled musicians led by talented young composer and multi-instrumentalist Thomas Bradley. Thomas’ songwriting journey began in 2019. He has remained at the core of the project, working with various talented musicians along the way. However, the current lineup has really brought a level of musicianship to the Project that he has been striving for since the beginning.
Midnight Sky, the chart-topping country/americana group led by Tim Tye, has released their highly anticipated new single, “White Heat” via MTS/Virgin/Universal. Packed with fiery imagery and electrifying energy, the song marks a bold departure from the reflective tone of their earlier hits, showcasing a raw and volatile intensity that’s impossible to ignore.
Ludwig Jonsson is a musician and producer based in southern Sweden. He also plays the guitar in My Dear Addiction
Augmented Hearts, a dynamic band hailing from St. Louis, United States, is capturing hearts with their unique blend of rock influences. This quartet came together through the unconventional route of Craigslist, culminating in a solid lineup that exudes synergy and passion. Augmented Hearts draws inspiration from a diverse range of artists including Spiritbox, Amira Elfeky, and Sunny Day Real Estate, infusing their music with a fresh, captivating energy that resonates with audiences worldwide.
Andy’s new single is a stark warning to the world’s leaders to heed scientific evidence and phase out fossil fuels, before global warming leads to further environmental catastrophic consequences. Those of us that have children are introducing them into a dangerous and uncertain climate, we need to act now! Musically, the release builds upon the critical success of Andy’s album Poetry in Exile in early 2024. It sees him returning to the piano this time and duetting with violinist Beatrice Limonti who has performed extensively with Andy and his band over the past 12 months.
Having dug Buffalo, NY singer, guitarist, and keyboardist Bill Nehill’s “art blues/avant country” duo The Guilty Few with Cory Nealon, his longer-running synth-pop/darkwave pair-up with electronics wiz Ed Hallborg — also known as Pieces N/H — is vastly different.
Kevin Starrs brings his vision of ’70s giallo to life.
The Scarlet Goodbye is the creative lovechild of long-time Minnesota musicians Daniel Murphy and Jeff Arundel. A chance meeting between Dan Murphy, pivotal in the formation and writing of both Soul Asylum and Golden Smog, and mellow singer-songwriter-producer Jeff Arundel, led to an attic studio in St. Paul, Minnesota, where the lads hunkered down and created the LP Hopes Eternal, a unique and original blend of both artists—part Rolling Stones, part Townes Van Zandt. Hopes Eternal went on to be one the best-reviewed records of 2023, released on The Label Group/ Universal, and supported by some great live shows across the Midwest.
Manchester’s Secret Night Gang returns with a smooth and soulful new single, “How To Love.” This captivating track blends classic and modern influences, showcasing the band’s unique take on love and connection in the modern age. “How To Love” is a sonic journey that seamlessly weaves together elements of R&B, soul, and jazz, drawing inspiration from icons like Bilal, Prince, and D’Angelo. The song’s lush soundscape is further elevated by the masterful touch of multi-Grammy award-winner Russell Elevado (D’Angelo, Erykah Badu) on mixing and Alex De Turk (D’Angelo, PJ Morton) on mastering.
For all the gloomy vamping, Really Great sees a light at the end of the tunnel. Be The Light On is not about escaping that tunnel of despair. It’s about the precious moment when you first realize that escape is possible. And what a beautiful moment that is.
Fringe Frontier’s tunes are fueled by Americana storytelling and gritty guitar hooks. Their music rolls through the back counties of the South up to New York City. Songs from the Wirehouse, their forthcoming LP, was mixed by 2x Grammy-winner and Midlake drummer McKenzie Smith, and mastered by Grammy-nominee Kim Rosen. Fringe Frontier’s new single “This City” hits with all the haunting electricity of New York City. Bit of jangle, a dose of overdrive, and enough searing melodies to make your mohawk pierce the skyline.
Midnight Psychic was formed by Connecticut-based musicians Jayson Munro and George Moore in early 2022. They describe their music as “goth rock inspired by abandoned shopping malls, clown paintings and window blinds.” The band consists of guitar/vocals (Munro), bass (Moore), and programmed keyboard and ‘80s-style drum machines. The band takes inspiration from both classic goth rock and more modern post-punk, darkwave, and shoegaze sounds. Midnight Psychic has performed extensively throughout the New England region, including at Dark Spring Boston 2024.
With “17,” Digital Tapestry shares a deeply personal narrative inspired by his father’s passing, culminating in a poignant farewell that reflects themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. The song not only serves as a tribute to his father but also showcases his growth as an artist, with a production quality that sets it apart from his previous works. Recorded at his home studio, this release exemplifies Digital Tapestry’s dedication to his craft and his ability to channel personal experiences into compelling musical storytelling.
Seven years since their debut, on 7 March 2025, CIRCU5 return with “CLOCKWORK TULPA,” their long-awaited second album and first as a full band, featuring founder Steve Tilling, Mark Kilminster (Tin Spirits frontman, bass & vocals) and Lee Moulding (drums & vocals).
High energy turbo-rock with an infamously chaotic live show. Furiously hard working and proudly DIY. Loud as hell, soaring vocals, riffs for days and a reputation as one of the greatest live bands in the UK. “Slow Down” marks the start of a new journey into the new, matured Mother Vulture.
