Pop-punk band, From States Away, show their appreciation for all that have been there over the years in their new track, “Held Me Down!”
Held Me Down has all the punch and catchiness of your typical pop-punk song, with the addition of some extra grit, aggression, and lead guitar. I especially liked the fast-paced progression and guitar rhythm to build excitement throughout. As with more pop style tracks, the main vocal is extra strong in the mix, so I loved hearing the added aggression and supporting backup vocals. If you like a solid pop-punk style with a bit of guitar and driving distortion, this one might be one to catch!
Listen to “Held Me Down,” by From States Away here, and follow them for updates on their upcoming album!
Do you miss Warped Tour? The heat? The humidity? The music?
If you answered yes to all four of those (or even just the first and last ones), you’re going to enjoy Florida-based metalcore band Royal Hearts.
The band’s latest single, “Disaster”, tosses in just enough familiarity to catch my ear, while straying far away from “generic local band metalcore”. The blend Royal Hearts brings to the table is quite appealing, and Fronz-style vocals even make a brief appearance – the sound will be familiar to anyone who attended the last five or six years of Warped Tour.
Take a listen to “Disaster” now, and be sure to follow the band via the links below!
Metal band, Bridges Ablaze, from Austin Texas, hit us with a hefty riffing track, “Hellbent!”
I enjoyed this track particularly due to its use of heavy guitars, diverse vocals styles, and consistent pacing. While it is certainly a metal song, it doesn’t race to the finish line with overly sped up sections. The speed of the track allows enough room for the riffs and vocals to open up and breathe. The backup vocals and effects mix in for the perfect amount of space and power. The breakdown in the latter half of the song doesn’t disappoint either, complete with a solo and guttural growl. If you’re a fan of the riffing and long sustained vocal style in metalcore, this one may be for you!
Give “Hellbent,” by Bridges Ablaze a watch here, and be sure to follow them for more!
Dutch pop-rock artist Daimy Lotus has recently released her latest single, “1st Class D-Bag.
The catchy blend of pop rock and pop punk is reminiscent of artists such as New Politics – which upon taking a deeper listen may be a major influence on Daimy Lotus’ work.
The song itself is fantastic, and is well deserving of a second, third, and fourth listen!
Metalcore band from Germany, 4 Oceans, bring it back to RMP with their new track “Dead Addicted!”
The Last track we covered by 4 Oceans, “Unbidden,” had some grungy but uplifting instrumentation with guitars and synths. Dead Addicted delivers in the same light, with a health balance between ear splitting growls and full melodic choruses. The guitars on this song I found to be especially effective, offering clarity, but not overpowering the rest of the arrangement. The synth additions hold a wider ambient portion of the mix than on Unbidden. If you like your heavy riffs with some extra edge and an aggressive vocal to combo with, try out Dead Addicted!
Give “Dead Addicted,” by 4 Oceans a listen here, and follow them for more!
German metalcore band, Half Me, slap down a hefty wall of sound with this month’s release “Blacklight.”
The beefiness of instruments really shine through on this one, with massive gritty guitars and bass. The clean and growl vocals are well executed with an engaging back and forth. Although brutal and dirty, the song has a smoothness to it that melds all elements together into one cohesive unit. Transitions throughout the track keep it moving and dynamic as well. If you like a chunky metalcore track with plenty of massive brutality, give the Blacklight video a watch! Stick with it until the end for a grinding breakdown too.
Watch the official video for Half Me and their track “Blacklight” here and follow them for future updates!
Metalcore band Destroy//Create, team up with Rory Rodriguez of Dayseeker, to bring us a heavy dynamic story “Whisper (Printemps.)”
With calming clean vocals and guitar building into barking vocals and driving guitars, this song keeps a dynamic flow. I enjoyed listening to the three intensities of vocal styles, mellow, aggressive, and the wide chorus sound. You can really feel the passion put into this, with melody lines and lyrics that pull you in. The instruments keep the track punchy and escalated to match the diverse vocal styles. If you like the story in songs, with contrasting sections and dynamic changes, this one might be worth a listen!
Scope out “Whisper (Printemps)” by Destroy//Create featuring Rory Rodriguez and be sure to follow them for more!
Metalcore band “We’re Wolves,” open the month with a heavy production “Titanium.”
The video provides awesome contrast, jumping from the clean guitar riff in the studio, to a full-on hefty mix. There are plenty of gut-wrenching growl vocals and riffing sections, with clean vocals as a break from the mayhem. The rhythm and punch in drums set a solid base for the rest of the instruments to thrive. I especially liked the variations in clean vocal melodies when they hit up in the higher register. Combining the visual story with a punchy mix makes for a compelling track any hard rock or metal fans should watch!
Give “Titanium” by We’re Wolves, a look here, and be sure to follow them for more bangers!
Massachusetts pop punk act Motionyear have just dropped their latest single, “Disarray”. The song discusses topics such as coming of age, questioning ones own future, and nostalgia for your teenage years.
Produced by fellow Bay Stater, Alan Day (of Four Year Strong), the song packs a punch with carefully crafted harmonies and vocal doubling riding on top of chunky guitars and a driving beat.
After 5 long years, London was round for a long-awaited performance by the renowed punk-rockers Rise Against, at no other place than the most legendary London venue. The Brixton Academy was electric on November 21 as Rise Against took the stage for an unforgettable night of music.
From the moment they stepped onstage, the band had the sold-out crowd in the palm of their hand. Lead singer Tim McIlrath, backed by bassist Joe Principe, Zach Blair on the guitar, and drummer Brandon Barnes, delivered a performance we won’t be forgetting for a while. The crowd was filled with energy and excitement as the band opened with their hit single “Re-Education (Through Labour)”.
The Chicago-based rockers, who have been a mainstay in the punk rock genre since their formation in 1999, didn’t miss a beat as they tore through a high energy set. Five thousand people lucky enough to witness the capturing performance that Rise Against brought to London on their current NOWHERE GENERATION European Tour didn’t miss their chance at jumping and singing along. A powerful set that showcased the band’s impressive musical talent. One can only call this a testament to their longevity and how they continue to bring their unique sound to life.
“It wouldn’t be a Rise show if we didn’t have our fists in the air!”
“Say it with me, RISE! RISE! RISE! RISE!”
– Rise Against lead, Tim McIlrath
Lead singer Tim McIlrath’s voice was in top-notch form as he sang the lyrics that have become an anthem for so many of us. The band followed up with a string of hits from their extensive discography, including “Savior” and “Prayer of the Refugee”. The hard-hitting lyrics and politically charged sound Rise Against is so well known for had the audience screaming and singing along to every song. A heartfelt acoustic version of “Swig Life Away” left the crowd singing along in unison with passion that was truly infectious, and ensured the emotion was tangible in the entire room.
Brixton Academy, one of the most famous venues not only in England, had the pleasure to host this fabulous spectacle of a show. A gorgeous venue is simply asking for great acts, and Rise against certainly didn’t disappoint. Their stage presence, the impressive lighting and visuals, and ever-present fists in the air have all only added to the overall atmosphere of the show.
The band also gave some of their deeper cuts the spotlight, playing fan-favourites like “Satellite” and “Hero of War”. Lead singer Tim McIlrath was in fine form, belting out vocals with a signature mix of aggression and emotion. The band even took a moment to thank the audience for their support “I want to thank you for being so patient,” McIlrath said, “This is why we keep coming back to London, it’s one of our favourite places.”
Rise Aganist’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, and it was clear that the band had put their heart and soul into every song. We may have had to wait 5 years for the band to return to the UK’s capital, but good things come to those who wait. And in the case of Rise Against, good is an understatement.
Rise Against 2022 UK/European tour with The Story So Far as support act
