In their new single "Midnight Stars", Indiana emo outfit Mega Manhattan seeks to use varying time signatures, colorful lyrics, and just a touch of sampling to create an ethereal, dreamlike feeling, and they achieve it admirably. Equal parts romantic and restrained, this one manages to be a heartstring-tugger without losing its listenability. You feel the longing but you enjoy the experience, and that's not an easy thing to do. Catchy and cerebral, this one is a must-listen fo

Man, I sure do love dynamic music. So often love songs, songs of longing for "the good old days" are arranged in slow, sad tempos. Painful and depressing, they serve a purpose and I'm not disparaging that, but I'll also submit that it sure is nice to hear an uptempo, rocking love song every now and again too. With their new offering "Lincoln Ave", Slow Drag proves they're anything but what their name implies. Sentimental, romantic emo delivered by a very capable group of tale

Well, Harker is a helluva good band. There's so much anger, dissent and aggression in today's punk and metal, and it's most welcome and more necessary than ever. But with their new song, "No Radio", Harker hones in on some emotional elements that many others miss. Passion. Heart. Inspiration. Reminds me of another oft-overlooked UK band from a bygone era: Snuff. Bouncing Souls a bit too, but more in feeling than literal similarity. In a sea of galloping skate-punk beats and m

Angular, intense, and unrelenting, RUNCLUB combines a wall of distortion, incredible drumming, and a quick-fire staccato vocal delivery to create something surprisingly catchy and almost danceable. It's a very modern sound, like a simplified Turnstile, and the production is impeccable. Hell, if that doesn't make you want to give "Postmortem" a try, what will? We added the single to our Underground Punk playlist on Spotify. Now stop reading and start listening. RUNCLUB - "Post

Undulating time signatures collide with dual male and female vocals to create a song that is equal parts heavy and soft, sour and sweet. It's as if the listener alternates between a really good massage and a speedbag pummeling, and that's a compliment. Her Name Was Claire's new single, "Battered and Broken" (I prefer mine battered and deep fried. Ba-dum-pish.) utilizes considerable tools and talent to create a sound that's not quite emo, not quite hard rock and not quite hard

Germany-based band Stage Fried just released their new single, "Nepal Flames". Boasting an anthemic sound that's fueled by punk, hardcore, and hard rock elements (and even a dash of rockabilly), this is a dynamic new tune that any fan of the genre is going to love. What's most impressive? This is only the second single released by the band. Take advantage of stumbling across this project early, so when they blow up, you can tell all your friends you knew of them since the beg

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: mid-tempo, four-chord Punk Rock, when done correctly, could save us all. So simple and yet so emotional. So easy to play and yet so difficult to play well. Such is the case with Switzerland's Back East (Switzerland? Did NOT see that coming.) and their latest offering, "High On Life". Gruff, well-delivered vocals, simple tempo and melody, perfectly appropriate rolling basslines, we've heard it all a thousand times, sure. But when it

On the surface, the new offering from punk/rock outfit STAGE FRIED is a good song. Catchy chorus, driving rhythm, slightly subdued vocals that actually juxtapose quite well against the rock backdrop. If you dig a bit deeper, however, you get a band who is utilizing music in a way that I think is primary to the point of music in the first place: to stand up for something. In this case, as in many others lately, that something is political. The songs conveys the performer's dis

Austria-based metalcore band Bite To Break just unleashed their new single, "In Between". This is a viciously melodic new tune that'll capture any fan of the genre. Heavy-handed and melodic instrumentals lie beneath a powerful vocal performance as listeners are treated to earth-shattering breakdowns and spot-on production work. What a release! Bite To Break - "In Between" Only the second track released by the band, this serves as another example of why Bite To Break is a band

A dash of Against Me, a scoche of Face to Face, and sprinkle the slightest bit of emo on top, and you have the new track "Romeo" by the DIY punk rockers Lady Susan. Upbeat without being saccharine, heavy without being pummeling, this one checks a lot of boxes, and I really enjoyed it. Good production for a DIY project and some great gang vocals, what's not to love? These days, with recording technology being what it is, it's my opinion that DIY is the way to go unless you've

First off, the band name makes you laugh and simultaneously makes you feel smart for getting it, and I don't often feel smart, so I thank them for that. What we have here is an upbeat, easy song to listen to that's very stylish in its simplicity. It's fun and catchy and very well-executed, and on the surface, that could be it. Well done, review over. Then you read the lyrics and realize that it's a very clever warning: don't believe the car salesman with the great pitch, for

Simple, well-executed old-school punk rock is always welcome. Catchy hooks, dual vocals and the rolling bassline that made us love Matt Freeman put a smile on my face every time as well. ill jill has all of that with their new single "Burning Bright", off their upcoming album, We are Not the Problem. Couple that with the fact that these Riot Grrls are flying the flag for the overlooked and the marginalized, and I like it even more. After all, isn't Punk Rock's main goal to gi

"Innocence" is a single released earlier this year by the Kansas-based Nu-Metal band The Absent. Coming fully equipped with ripping instrumentals, powerful vocal flows, and spot-on production work, this is a wild new ride that any fan of the genre is going to love. What a release! You can check out the music video for the single below. We also added the track to our Heavy Heavy Heavy playlist on Spotify. Make sure to follow The Absent so you can stay on top of what else they

"Death Of The Party" is a single released earlier this year by the Seattle-based band PUNKTUALS. Boasting a raw and infectious energy, this track wastes no time handing listeners dynamic vocal flows, ripping instrumentals, and impressive songwriting. What a release! You can check out the music video for the single below. We also added the track to our Underground Punk and Underground Indie & Alternative playlists on Spotify. Make sure to follow PUNKTUALS so you can stay on to

"Smell the Rot" is a single released earlier this year by the London-based metal band Perpetual Paradox. A single from their new EP, May Misery Befall You, this is a wild new tune that rips hard with heavy-handed instrumentals, powerful vocal flows, and anthemic energy. If you like what you hear, we highly suggest you check out their new EP in its entirety because this thing rips. You can check out the music video for the single below. We also added it to our Heavy Heavy Heav

Nebarska-based artist EverWill just unleashed their new single "Stay". Boasting a dynamic blend of styles under the Hard Rock umbrella, this track pulls from elements of Alt-Rock, Metal, Emo, and more. The end result is a refreshing sound that feels nostalgic while at the same time new. That's not an easy feat to accomplish with music, especially today. What a release! Powerful vocal flows pull you into this track as you're gifted heavy-handed instrumentals, unique transition

Well hell. What is a beginner music critic to do when reviewing the work of a friend and peer? And what’s more, what to do when this friend has consistently put out really lovely songs for what seems like forever? The answer? I reckon it’s to listen closely and disassociate any and all personal feelings, right? Ok, here goes: Although bands like Lagwagon, Eve 6 and Descendents don’t often get lumped together, for the purposes of this review, it fits. Just bear with me. Each h

Screamed verses and sung choruses are becoming the norm in today’s brand of Metalcore and, as long as it’s executed deftly, I have no problem with it. It plays on the dynamic of two very disparate approaches and attitudes, and the juxtaposition between the two makes for some interesting works. Enter Love Like Enemies and their new release, “The Wasp and the Spider”. Aggressive, impressive and impossibly guttural, the vocalist chugs forth like a locomotive fueled by anger, and

The Carringtons are a damn good band. Sure, they play a certain brand of lo-fi garage-driven rock à la The Strokes and Band of Horses, and that particular genre may often be unfairly judged “too cool” or “pretentious” by modern listeners, but I beg to differ. It takes a certain swagger and confidence to pronounce “still” and “there” in such a way as to make them rhyme. It’s stylish and smooth, and somehow sounds right. In my humble opinion The Carringtons sidestep being labe

Trickstate deliver a pounding, pummeling metal sound with impressive dual-screamers and a big, anthemic sound with their new single, “Static Truth”. This one would be just as applicable in the gym or while training as it would in the chaos of the pit. Booming drums, a baseline so low that you almost feel rather than hear it, subtly political and brashly defiant lyrics and screams and growls that peel paint off the walls, this one checks all the boxes for Metal Core/Hardcore