ROCK

Okay, Death Rodeo is a gritty, weird, beautiful punch to the gut. Oliver Jordan does everything himself—writing, recording, probably wrestling with inner demons between takes—to create this collection that gets the gist of Nine Inch Nails and early Nirvana, who got stuck in a haunted VHS tape. The opener, “Death…

With a title that evokes the cosmic push and pull of light and dark, “The Sun & Moon” is an existential fever dream wrapped in a reckless rock ‘n’ roll package. You wouldn’t guess it, but this song took 13 years, over 20 demos, and countless versions before arriving in…

“Samurai Smile” by Sons of Martha struts through a neon-lit alley with your headphones blasting ghost stories and groove at full volume. From the very first smug rev of the guitar, you know you’re in for something mysterious, and just a bit dangerous. Then the drums kick in, followed by…

If grunge had a baby with Aussie pub rock and raised it on poetic angst and punchy one-liners, you’d get “Pines Salad”. ReeToxA—Melbourne’s own Jason McKee—serves up 14 tracks of raw honesty, emotional sucker punches, and riffs that haunt your head. This debut album is 30 years in the making,…

Harry Kappen’s “Four” is a confession, a conversation, and a heartfelt punch to the gut all wrapped in one. The Dutch musician/music therapist/multi-instrumentalist brings his whole soul (and then some) to this eclectic 10-track collection, weaving personal reflections with sharp social commentary and wrapping it all in a sound that…

If Nine Inch Nails and a séance had a baby, it might sound a lot like “King Knight” by Staytus. This track is a gritty, ghost-laced fever dream dipped in static and draped in leather. It’s a hypnotic descent into the underworld of identity and self-reclamation. The third offering from…

The All’s Eye is back and beaming straight from Hopatcong, NJ with a jammy, soul-charged live EP that feels like you’ve just stumbled into the coolest session this side of the Hudson. “Saturday Sessions Live from Hopatcong, NJ” is two tracks of musical alchemy cooked up by guitarist Ari Joshua,…

If gravel had a groove and philosophy could dance, it would sound a lot like “Buddha Blues” by Shyfrin Alliance. Dropping as the first taste of their second album In The Shadow of Time, this single dives in headfirst, dragging you along for a smoky, soul-laced ride through the dusty…

The Ancient Unknown are back—and they’re not holding anything back with Animals, their latest prog-metal rock fusion single that dropped on February 28. The track is a grimy, thunderous dive into the complexities of humanity’s relationship with animals and the environment, wrapped in thick distortion, haunting vocals, and searing guitars.…

With Chained, Alwyn Morrison emerges as an artist unafraid to peel back emotional layers and lay his truth bare. Born in New York and recorded in Los Angeles with producer Michael Carey, Chained is Morrison’s most personal song to date. The track opens with softly rustling guitar strums and gentle,…