A band that we’ve discussed a fair few times on here before – and rightly so – is the rock powerhouse of Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes. Good news folks, they’ve made a playlist they listen to, right before they tear it up on stage.
It gleams with a horror show of borderline crazy, with emphatic tellings of hard rock throughout. And I can’t get enough of it.
Composing of a stellar line-up – IDLES, Squid, Never Not Nothing, slowthai and Demob Happy to name a few – it is a pulsating riff-heavy playlist worthy of the agape jawline you receive when you listen to it full throttle. Bang this on to get you out of the bed in the morning, for a thrill of a gym session or even when you’re making a stonkin’ meal in your kitchen, it is a playlist for every momentous – or angry – occasion.
As tough and brittle as a Rubber Factory, rock-blues natives from Ohio, The Black Keys are true realists when it comes to making the swampy work of blues-rock.
Known for spiting their differences about the music industry, The Black Keys – made up with Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney – they are a brutal force to be reckoned with as this same force goes to great depths to deliver truly raucous works of outrage, contemplation and delivery.
Their tenth studio album, Delta Kream is a swampy dredge of traditional blues-rock that harks the duo back to their collective roots of The Big Come Up in ’02 and Rubber Factory in ’04.
Despite the differences of seeing the brutish anthems of El Camino that saw the band receive commercial success from 2011, Delta Kream is a luxurious midnight-cruiser of an album that is worth every road trip in the mist of darkness.
The twelve-track listen is a stripped-back rendition of cover songs of blues artists that continue to inspire them, that ultimately remind them to never let go of the blues.
When all said and done, Delta Kream is a showing of the blues brothers-from-another-mother truly in their element. Take a trip down memory lane, because this album yearns for candlelight.
Better watch out: those guitar hooks are set to reel you in, if you’re not careful.
Alternative 4-piece outfit tapping into the workshop of indie rock creativity, Strawberry Laceare creating music that is simply fun. This unmistakable blend of genres is a showing of that with their song-writing. How each song creates a different appealing side to a band who, through each song they deliver, comes many stories to their name, craft and songwriting work. They’ve been on my radar for a fair while and since they’ve released Wake Up recently, they’ve entered my peripherals yet again and have certainly stayed there.
Their sheer numbers gathered on streaming giants, Spotify, shows just how lovable their music has become within such a short time. The music is effortless at times, with the trailblazing drums setting such a fantastic tone throughout. Dipping their toes every so now and then with indie familiarities with SUGARTHIEF and The Night Cafe, Strawberry Lace are a band you’d not want to forget anytime soon. All of it is so so clever too – from the song structure, to the tone and tempo, they are on my HOTLIST! Question is, will they be on yours too?
Welcome, my pivotal Pit-dwellers. Please venture into the list below about the newest and strongest heavy rock music in the month of May right now.
My Town (feat. Joe Talbot) – Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes: Slow reproach from an otherwise chaotic sound … but new sound is fresh and promising.
The Chant – Gojira:The anthemic churns of Gojira with this song is befitting with a sense of euryopia. Raise your fists to this one.
He’s So Good – Trash Boat: Soaring choruses enthused with punk rock and post-hardcore – what’s not to love?
Dead Butterflies – Architects:Album review of this one pretty much sums up the new sounds from these lads. Greatness abound, worth every listen.
War – IDLES: Talbot and his crew joins the list a second time with their passionate, darkly intimidating work demonstrates the best in the UK scene of punk rock right now. Utterly damaging, it’s brilliant.
One+One – Death From Above 1979: Gritty configurations and dirty lyricisms, 1979’s new material is colossal and composes elements from Royal Blood’s new album, Typhoons.
NERVOUS – While She Sleeps, Simon Neil – Another cross-collaboration with Biffy’s frontman, Simon Neil, NERVOUS are redefining the works of modern metal. Cathartics matched with beauty.
Only Love Can Save Me Now – The Pretty Reckless – True classic hard rock empowered with an emphatic line-up. Matt Cameron, Kim Thayil, Taylor Momsen. Phwoar.
Whiplash – The Horrors – Electrifying horror-show by the Horrors. Hard rock at its best. See you in The Pit for this one in the summer soon.
Fiercely independent in any scenario is a difficult task to undertake and complete well. Being fiercely independent in the music industry without any financial backing from that of a record label? – An unequivocally difficult feat to do and do well, mind. A true musician who personifies in relatable story-telling is the man that goes by Gerry Cinnamon.
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A brutish, relatable and genuine in design, Cinnamon is a brutally honest with his portrayal as a music artist, as he is with his lyrics. Held deep within an industry that changes to the consumer, Gerard Crosbie has kept himself to himself – with keeping his local accent in tone with his brutally honest lyrics. It is a tribal fusion of rock and folk at its best.
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Fashioning a reputation as the world’s greatest independent music artists, he has championed and broken great records in his journey. His sing-along anthems are emphatically powerful, rich and simply modest. With just a man and his acoustic guitar, he has reached impressive heights that gives Ginger Ed a run for his money.
Sometimes, Belter, Canter, Where We’re Going, Ghost.
An acoustic extraordinaire and a simple marvel in creating empathetic work, he joins the ever-growing list of prolific Scots who are turning the industry upside down into a Northern nuisance of fantastic music.
Biffy Clyro, Twin Atlantic, Paolo Nutini, Lewis Capaldi, The Snuts, Gerry Cinnamon. These are just a few artists that come to mind in an industry littered with them.
If it’s one thing the Scots do right, it’s writing music.
