It’s happened! Winter is finally leaving us! Celebrate Spring with all this great music you might have missed that came out in March and get in the mood for warm weathers, more daylight and the promise of all the summer good times coming your way.
Dowsing – ‘Kept Me Around’
We feel like we’ve been waiting forever for this new Dowsing album but man was it worth the wait. ‘Kept Me Around’ shows that Dowsing are not just another emo revival band, they’ve evolved into a new sound (much like a Pokemon) and it’s wonderful. This is a wonderful teaser for the album, which is about love, pushing people away and being vulnerable. Dowsing are still making us feel all of the the emotions. [Maryam Hassan]
HECK – ‘Good As Dead’
Heck have finally managed to crack the formula that they were looking for all this time. They’ve always had the energy and the passion, all they needed was the songs – on their debut album ‘Instructions’ they have those songs, and they have them by the bucket-load. ‘Good As Dead’, with its batshit insane riffs, Andrew W.K. levels of energy and groovy hooks (and utterly ridiculous video) is one of, if not the best songs on the album. Heck are far too aggro to ever be a commercially successful band but they are already a bloody great one. [Andy Leddington]
Face to Face – ‘See If I Care’
Face to Face have come full circle in a lot of ways, taking a long path in a genre that is extremely saturated at this point but remaining content with the fact they are one of the prime examples when it comes to said genre. It doesn’t mean they can’t be surprising though, and ‘See if I Care’ is a well written song about the desperation that can stem from personal relationships going south. It was a refreshing listen and it continues the straightforward songwriting and emotionally accessible style that makes their music great. [Mike Petruccelli]
Casey – ‘Darling’
Welsh quintet Casey have stolen many a heart with their emotionally bruising music, and earlier this month they delivered another powerful and moving track in the form of ‘Darling’. Tom Weaver’s vocals punch through blistering riffs, all while a powerful energy simmers beneath the surface of their layered guitars and drum work. It’s impressive, as is everything they’ve released so far, and is a great first taste of their debut album which is to be released this summer. [Jess Tagliani]
Biffy Clyro – ‘Wolves of Winter’
Biffy Clyro are finally back after three years since their dividing double album ‘Opposites’ and THANK GOD, it’s about time. ‘Wolves of Winter’, a track that makes a huge leap towards a stratospheric sound for the band while maintaining the erratic charm of their oldest songs, sets the bar stupidly high for what’s to come. From Simon Neil’s chatter and laughter, through electronically-altered vocals to spine-tingling group vocals, Biffy are back with a bang. Need proof? It’s inspired enough fans to pre-order the album that they broke the Warner Bros. website, and that massive chorus is going to sound great at all those summer headliner slots. [Kathryn Black]
Fucko – ‘Sewn Seeds’
Pulling together the best aspects of indie-pop and pop-punk, Fucko brings to mind the great music being made in the 90s and early 2000s from bands like Tsunami and The Eames Era. ‘Sewn Seeds’ has a melody that’s really pretty, the vocals are passionate, and the guitars have just the right amount of fuzz and jangle. It has a punk edge without being too in your face, and it’s indie-pop without getting too sappy [Paul Silver]
Muncie Girls – ‘Respect’
Muncie Girls have outdone themselves on this track. A scathing criticism of ‘lad culture’ and the effect it has on young girls, this song epitomises the sound that the band has grown in their new record, ‘From Caplan to Belsize’. Alongside the political and lyrical aspect of this song, you can’t escape the fact that the chorus is catchy as hell, and the driving punk beats throughout tie the pop down with firm alternative roots. [Alex Hall]
Polar – ‘Tidal Waves and Hurricanes’
2016 has just got to be Polar’s year. They’ve been there or there abouts for the last couple of years and everything is looking like 2016’s ‘No Cure No Saviour’ is poised to take them higher.’Tidal Waves And Hurricanes’ is the first single to drop and expertly enhances the blend of heavy as a gorilla hardcore and melodic choruses that elate even the most miserable. The heavy parts will leave no prisoners before the calls of “no saviour” get the vocal chords humming. It’s also a line that Rick Grimes and co. (The Walking Dead) will soon be singing, but one thing’s for sure, this single is the perfect antidote to any zombie virus. [Dave Bull]
Endless Mike and The Beagle Club – ‘In Like A Lion, Out Like A Light’
“You saw the best minds of your generation destroyed by madness, I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by part-time jobs and student loans…” You can’t deny that Endless Mike and The Beagle Club have a knack for social criticism. ‘St. Paul’ is a record about identity, growing up, and still wanting to change for the better. ‘In Like A Lion, Out Like A Light’ is a perfect example of all themes mentioned wrapped up in a punk-folk bow. The band has been around for almost a decade now, but this might be the record that gets more people to take notice. [Daniella Heminghaus]
Hatebreed – ‘Looking Down The Barrel of Today’
May sees the release of Hatebreed’s 9th album – and having had it on pretty much non-stop in the car for a week solid, I can attest that they still touch areas no-one else can quite reach. OK, you know what you’re going to get. OK, if you didn’t like them before you won’t like them now, but ‘Looking Down The Barrel Of Today’ would be pretty near the beginning of a best of Hatebreed compilation. A sneak peak of the track makes up part of the album teaser video. [Mike Scott]
Saosin – ‘The Silver String’
It’s been 7 years since we last heard anything from Californian post-hardcore outfit Saosin and they’ve spent the time since hunting down the right vocalist for that unique high-toned sound they became so well known for. Finally, after teaming back up with Circa Survive vocalist Anthony Green we can finally welcome them back and BOY is it good. First single ‘The Silver String’ is the perfect introduction to this new era of Saosin, not too far removed from their debut, but they’ve developed upon their characteristics and made them into something exciting and passionate. With the full-length ready to be released in May, it already has the potential to sit amongst the top 10 of the year. [Tamsyn Wilce]
Teen Suicide – ‘The Big Joyous Celebration’
For all of the tongue-in-cheek song titles that are littered throughout Teen Suicide’s back catalogue, there’s deep thought and meaning at the core of their music. Led purely buy piano-keys, disjointed strings and shimmering vocals that ache melancholy, it is Teen Suicide at their minimalistic peak. While the accompanying video may be in keeping with the bands creepy manifesto, this beautiful track provides a glimpse through the keyhole to their forthcoming double album, ‘It’s the Big Joyous Celebration, Let’s Stir the Honeypot’, and gives hope to those who have none left. [Glen Bushell]
House Olympics – ‘Laugh Track’
‘Nothing Feels Better Than Feeling Better’, the new EP from House Olympics, opens with a hard question: “Are you depressed, or do you just want to be?” It’s about as hard as the rest of the record is musically. ‘Laugh Track’ is everything you could want out of a new screamo release. It’s emotionally raw but polished and dynamic enough to not sink into the crowd of recent post-hardcore. In a world with countless Bandcamp pages that sound like the Touché Amoré demo 7”, this is a more measured approach. The whole record is as good as it is smart. [Jay Papandreas]
Bob Mould – ‘The End of Things’
There are a handful of men and woman who can say that they changed punk rock. There are even fewer who, like Bob Mould, can claim they created it. Since blazing the sonic trail with Hüsker Dü and crafting sweet rock sounds with Sugar, Mould has released eleven solo albums including his latest, ‘Patch The Sky’. The album is his third installment in five years that contains a rejuvenated sound, mixing the force from his Hüsker days with the catchy, infectious sounds of Sugar. ‘Patch The Sky’ explores darker themes than his previous two releases, but refuses to give an inch on the brightness of the tones and song structures. A beautifully crafted album from start to finish, ‘Patch The Sky’ is definitely worth a listen (and in my case repeated listens as it has been on constant repeat for weeks). [Jeff Takacs]
Patty Hearst – ‘Roeg’
Combining the talents behind Manchester DIY faves With That Knife, Well Wisher and New Hips, this quintet will hook you right in with their jams. Take ‘Roeg’ for instance, brimming with a fiery indie/post hardcore energy. Not only that, but the catchy build up it has will have you humming along for days. A friend told me they sounded like a blend of Johnny Foreigner and Hot Snakes. As for me, I just think they’re one of the best new bands around and worth your time. [Aaron Lohan]
The Hotelier – ‘Piano Player’
March cements the return of The Hotelier proper, with the first proper cut to appear from their eagerly anticipated ‘Goodness’ LP. Accompanied by a candid video offering a glimpse into the band’s sometimes unusual antics, its mirrors the tracks character. ‘Piano Player’ is intimate but not delicate. It marks a subtle departure from their emo offerings on previous full-length ‘Home, Like No Place Is There’, instead further representing their indie tendencies and offering a substantial six-minute snapshot of the new side of The Hotelier. Alongside the controversial album art, it appears The Hotelier are reconnecting with their own nature. [Ben Tipple]
The Lippies – ‘Garbage Man’
The Lippies debut Red Scare Industries self-titled LP seems both nostalgic and altogether new. Their sound takes influence from hardcore, pop-punk, surf-punk, and more, taking a break every now and then for some ukulele-led jams. The lyrics are smart, socially conscious and confrontational. And if you get a chance to see them live, rush to do so – Tonia is a force of nature as a front-person. Honestly, I just picked a song at random from this record. The whole thing is great. [Jason Swearingen]
The Falcon – ‘If Dave Did It’
A mere 10 years after ‘Unicornography’ (has it really been 10 years already?!), The Falcon come back rejuvenated, and with Dave Hause in tow. ‘If Dave Did It’ perfectly showcases what Hause brings to the band – singalong choruses and riotous attitude. This is a new dimension to The Falcon we’ve never heard before; part Loved Ones and part Red City Radio – we simply can’t wait to see The Falcon tear up Groezrock. [Mark Gadong]
Small Pond Big Fish – ‘Strange Thoughts Follow Shadows’
Taken from their recently released EP ‘Close My Eyes’, ‘Strange Thoughts Follow Shadows’ brings together a whole load of influences into an infectious and captivating three and a half minutes of high energy pop-punk. The absolutely on-point vocals of Iga Tchorz give the song its melody and hook but there’s plenty more going on. From the blazing opening riff, through the soaring chorus, to the brief chugging breakdown towards the end, every strand of ‘Strange Thoughts Follow Shadows’ comes together perfectly and marks out Small Pond Big Fish as definite ones to watch. [Chris Hilson]
Donnie Willow – ‘I Eat Flies’
You know when you listen to a new band and after just a few bars you think you’ve got them figured out? I made that mistake with Donnie Willow, but as the dynamic rhythm changes, frantic vocals and intricate musicianship of ‘I Eat Flies’ continue to unfold, the further you get from understanding what’s unravelling around you. Forget trying to figure out what they sound like and just appreciate what they represent: pure excitement, passion and energy. This is the kind of inventiveness and unpredictability that keeps our music fresh and interesting and this Glasgow-band three piece keep you guessing in all the right ways. [Mark Johnson]