Annnnd he finds his metal lady for the 2020s! I am, and always have been (thanks to sitting with my older brother in the mid 1970s, aged 6, being introduced to Black Sabbath and Deep Purple) a huge fan of the sound of Metal from the 70s and 80s. Newzerror isn’t from those decades, and…

Oh my word, Michèle Ducray is surely bonkers? I LOVE her! What a wondrously dark, out there single this is! “‘Psycho’ describes someone who’s sick of the world’s restrictions and doesn’t really care anymore,” explains Michèle. “It’s based on self-expression; we’re all on this giant rock heading into oblivion, so who cares – just be your most…

The new single from Haast Hunter, Sunshine, is about coming through Depression. This is a subject close to me in a number of ways, and I listened to the lyrics for this one and they resonate. Recorded at Lab Studios in the City of Sails, with renowned engineer Olly Harmer, guitarist/vocalist James Harper elaborates on…

Nova, a.k.a Bryn Van Vliet and Eliza Pickard, bring a smooth groove to their sound. It’s a jazz-esque vibe, one to get you swaying gently as they deliver it in a wine bar, in an open air festival, or anywhere. This kind of music fits anywhere, and that’s not easy to capture. Now personally, I…

I’ve been waiting for some guys with this sound. Dead Empire has the vibe of the truly unique. For the eponymously titled single I have reviewed here, the Mount Maunganui prog rockers have captured a wonderful energy of fury, punching at the world with a combination of guitar attack, snarling yet soaring vocals and an…

There are times in one’s life when one comes across something truly special. I popped the headphones on this evening to give This Heart from Õtautahi’s 1 Drop Nation a listen before giving my review, and didn’t expect what I got. I knew this band was good. I’d heard the previous single and I dug…

Bokeh, aka Chloe Lewer, is based in Berlin. She has the complex, Bohemian-esque vibe of that city in the soul of her music. I’ve reviewed her stuff before and loved it. This is no different – loved this too! A sparse mix, hypnotic and slightly chilling, Take Me To Your Sea is about falling under…

I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing Cautionary Tales before. This new single, “Falling”, is unlike the one I reviewed earlier this year. That one was a belter – and so is this one! I love the fact that this band has its distinct audio persona yet can achieve such diversity in their writing, orchestration, arrangements,…

I’ve reviewed Underwire before. This is their latest single “Calling Out”, and I must say these guys continue to entertain me. From the opening bar the song is pumping out a compelling rhythm that ensnares you in an instant. The band kicks in, and the snarl of the underground punk scene still swaggering through the…