Velvet King - 'Nah'

 ALTERNATIVE ROCK

Who doesn't love to sing along to "nah-nah-nah"'s? I think my favorite part of this song are the weird phaser sounds that add a layer of tension and movement. 

I'm gonna take a moment to compliment the BADASS drums. They sound sooo good and recorded very well. I personally love the snare. It's tight and snappy. 

The vocal style is also energetic but with a slacker tone - which I personally love. The reverb is tasteful, but I would have liked to hear them a bit more up front.

Okay. Guitars. They have awesome fuzzy tones. I think the solo and rhythm parts are straightforward which pair nicely with the killer bass line. The song has a defined lower register that makes it sound dark.

Overall the song is a fun sing along. And clearly the band members had fun after hearing that little snippet at the end of the song. 

Single. 2020.

Hot Snakes - 'Six Wave Hold-Down'

ALTERNATIVE ROCK

Drive me. The song title and album art supports the surfing imagery felt by the guitars and non-stop music drive.

But this isn't surf rock. It's darker. The toms are full and rhythmic. The vocalist's strained yells remind me of Dave Grohl's raspy energy. 

I have this song on a running playlist because of it's constant energy. There is some space in the pre-chorus that leaves room to breathe. 

from Jericho Sirens. By Sub Pop Records. 2018.

The Wytches - | All Your Happy Life |

ALTERNATIVE INDIE GARAGE PUNK ROCK

'Tis Halloween-y more than just because the artist's name is The Wytches. 

Is it the organ chords in the back that makes "Dumb Fill" sound like an old timey horror movie? 

Maybe. It's a combination of the above and other factors. For example, in "Crest of Death" it almost feels like bile will come through the vocalist's chant-like, raspy cries.

The fuzzy distortion of the guitars overwhelm this album. "Can't Face It" demonstrates a refreshing moment of where we can hear small pauses of this guitar distortion wall. 

Listening this album reminded me of Danny Elfman. What name this Halloween-y for me? The half-step chord progressions.

Please check out their creative website: The Wytches.

2016.

The Bots - 'All of Them (Wide Awake)'

ALTERNATIVE ROCK

Rousing tune with lots of air from the tambourine and overheads. The melody on the guitar is melodic and held up by the riffing guitar and simple bass line. Dreamy sounding vocals will have you drifting in your mind.

From Pink Palms by FADER Label. 2014.