As a big fan of the heavier genres, hard rock is one style I just keep coming back to. There’s always something heavy playing through my earphones, even if it’s a little different to the norm. As such an expansive genre, there’s a whole slew of underground artists bubbling underneath the surface, waiting to be discovered. If you’re into your heavy rock and you’d like to find your new favourite band, this round-up review is for you!
Review by Jane Howkins
Photo by Darren Mason
Darren Mason – What You Looking At?
Rap-rock is a genre that took hold during the 90s and early noughties, however Londoner Darren Mason shows that the style is here to stay! What You Looking At? mixes Darren’s rapping with a heavy sound, making for the best of both worlds! The riffs are groovy when they kick in, colliding well with the rhythm section. Whilst the vocals are largely rapped here, there’s also several singing sections, breaking the track down in a nice way. The track has an immense amount of energy, getting you psyched up from the very start.
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Vlad in Tears – Down
We’ve featured Vlad in Tears before, so I’m excited to be able to share a new track called Down. It’s a dark song with an eerie vibe, in part due to the creepy piano chords in the background. The verses are mellower than the choruses, which include some cool riffs as part of the package. The riffs chug along steadily in the background, as the synths swirl, weaving in and out of the music stylistically. The vocals are really epic, full of emotion through this dark rocker. If you’ve not checked Vlad in Tears out yet, this is the perfect opportunity!
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Betty Moon – Boilermaker
It’s great to hear more female rockers coming out of the woodwork – Betty Moon shows that she’s just as good as the men, if not better! Boilermaker features a really cool fuzzy guitar lick, running through the tune in an amazing way. There are also quite a lot of electronic elements thrown in for good measure here, making it sound even better! Betty’s vocals are strong and sultry, seeing this songwriter using her voice in a multitude of interesting ways. That groove will get stuck inside your head instantly!
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Meat in Space – Chromium Dioxide
Meat in Space is a one man band project, making it all the more impressive how good Chromium Dioxide sounds! The track has a fuzzy, garage rock sound, also lending itself well to the 90s alt-rock genre. The production quality is a little raw, but the fuzz-soaked guitars work really well with the style of music Meat in Space is trying to portray here. Dual vocals can be heard underneath the music, harmonising together occasionally to add a little more melody to this heavy banger of a tune. It won’t be for everyone, but those that like their rock raw should check this out.
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PRESSURE – All the things
PRESSURE bring something a little different to the table, exploding onto the music scene with an anthemic sound that wouldn’t be amiss in the 80s. It’s quite rare to hear a female fronted classic rock band, but PRESSURE do it perfectly on All the things. The vocals are really strong, soaring over the riffs in an epic way. Just listen to the ‘yeahs’ on the chorus – the emotion is really palpable! The backing vocals are also pretty interesting, adding a unique backing to this awesome tune.
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Bad Ass Beauty – Me
Me sounds epic from the very start, opening with a cool riff and the sound of Bad Ass Beauty’s sultry vocals talking until the song starts proper. The vocals really start to soar once the rhythm section kicks in – it’s a good thing they do, as the music is that heavy that a less powerful voice might struggle here. The drums have a really distinctive vibe, sounding unlike anything else I’ve ever heard before. The production quality is slightly raw, but again, it’s something that works really well with the overall style of the music.
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Garland Kelley – The Point of No Return
Regular readers might have spotted that we’ve featured Garland Kelley quite a few times here recently. The Point of No Return is another fantastic tune from this artist, opening with a really catchy guitar melody. The guitars have something of a rhythmic quality, seeing Garland’s vocals following the main line in a lovely way. The lyrics are about climate change and the future of the planet, adding a worthwhile theme to the music. The chorus is incredibly catchy, having a wonderful singalong quality to it.
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Bingo Boys – Donuts
Indianapolis band Bingo Boys are bringing something slightly into the mix here, as they’re more of a punk rock band than anything else. Donuts is a full throttle onslaught of sound, featuring a frantic beat and the guitar licks to go with it. The raw production really makes it sound like something out of the 70s, which is definitely a good thing to me! The vocals are a little eccentric at times, seeing the singing rise up into a manic sort of shriek on the chorus. This is a great song for headbanging!
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Black Stone Brewers – Too Far Gone
Australian band Black Stone Brewers is back with another expansive rock song in the form of Too Far Gone. It’s a little different from some of the other songs here, having more of a modern rock sound than anything else. A lovely selection of guitar melodies flit through the chorus, until the song changes on the chorus, becoming something rather beautiful. The production is really tight here, but it never sounds too squeaky clean, making for the best of both worlds. I also love how clear the vocals are, showing a great range.
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Gary Dranow – Something About You
Gary Dranow has been making music for many years now, and it really shows with how amazing his songwriting skills are! Something About You has an awesome 60s/70s rock sound, mixed in with a little classic pop. The bass and lead guitar play well together, making something altogether catchy when mixed in with the drums. The synths in the background add something extra special to this awesome tune – particularly on the chorus. Gary’s vocals are full of soul as they weave in and out the track in lovely style.
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The Starkillers – Eyes Like Fire
I like my heavy rock, but it’s got to have a bit of melody to it. That’s one of the reasons I loved The Starkillers’ song Eyes Like Fire, as it has both in spades. The verses are a little mellower, segueing well into the bombastic chorus. The main riff found on the verse is really addictive, showing just how well written this track is. The vocals change slightly as the song progresses, moving from a more whispered sound to a proper belt, showing an act unafraid to step out of the boundaries of their genre! You must check The Starkillers out!
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Drew Davies – The Comeback
Last, but certainly not least, is British artist Drew Davies, who is all set to release his sophomore album this year. The Comeback is a sign of good things to come, seeing Drew combine an 80s new wave sound with a heavier style. The drums sound massive here, especially when they’re combined with the killer basslines the track features. The synths have an eerie quality at times, but they work incredibly with the style Drew is trying to portray here. His chorus vocals are also spectacular in every way, soaring high above the music.
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