Discovering the new music underground around the globe
Hip-Hop/Review Leif Riggs - One Day
Leif Riggs is currently based in San Diego, CA. He has been rapping since the early 2000s.
Electronic/Review Giardini Oort - Dark Thoughts
Giardini Oort is a musical project created to provide a sanctuary of relaxation, meditation, and mental serenity through the power of music. Their intentionally immersive soundscapes blend elements of ambient, downtempo, LO-FI, and chill-out genres while also incorporating industrial and post-rock influences. At the heart of their compositions are the mesmerizing sounds of specialized meditation percussion instruments, such as the handpan and RAV VAST, harmoniously accompanied by a symphony of bells, Tibetan singing bowls, and the enchanting HAPI drum.
Folk/Review Engegård Quartet - Haugelåt
Engegård Quartet has become one of Norway’s most sought-after ensembles. Their bold, fresh interpretations of the classical repertoire, combined with a deep attachment to their Scandinavian roots, have attracted international acclaim. The quartet’s debut CD was praised as ‘breath-taking’ in The Strad, while their second release won Pizzicato magazine’s ‘Supersonic Award’. Their CD of works by Edvard Grieg, Jean Sibelius, and Olav Anton Thommessen was praised by Tully Potter in Music Web International as ‘what Grieg lovers have been waiting for’.
Rock/Review Sink to the Sea - Sink to the Sea
California instrumental post-rock, psychedelic, ambient, experimental, and art-rock band Sink to the Sea has recently released its self-titled debut album. Recorded live with very few overdubs, the band is composed of Marc Bobro (basses, euphonium, theremin, synths), James Van Arsdale (guitars, synths, drones), and Noah Whatoff (acoustic and electronic drums, samples). They are based in Southern California but do not like the sun.
Electronic/Review Minno - Through The Day, Through The Night
Minno is an up-and-coming EDM artist based in Austin, TX, known for his unique blend of electronic dance and indie-pop music. Originally starting out making remixes of artists such as Lana Del Rey, Kanye West, Woodes, and Luna Shadows, Minno quickly gained popularity, with his remixes being featured on popular music blogs such as thissongissick.com and youredm.com. Now, Minno has shifted his focus entirely to creating original music, crafting emotive and catchy tracks that showcase his exceptional songwriting abilities.
Rock/Review 3 Leagues to Rome - Dying Day
3 Leagues to Rome is a rock band from Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Consisting of Brian & Steve Mutchler, Paul Baker, Dave Boggs, and Dan Stead, the band has just released a new single called Dying Day. Recorded, produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by the legend Dave Hillis (Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, The Afghan Whigs, Blind Melon) at The Vault Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Rock/Review Gary Dranow - Ripping
Gary Dranow, Chris Zoupa, Jason Jones, Roman Burda, Klim Apalkov, and Roman Kuznetsov unite their global talents, fusing rock, blues, and metal influences to craft a unique sonic experience. Drawing inspiration from Hendrix, Vaughn, and Metallica, their music weaves blues rock, hard rock, and metal, enriched by personal experiences and diverse influences. The band's journey overcame personal battles, including Gary Dranow's bipolar disorder, infusing their music with authenticity and raw emotion.
Rock/Review Love Ghost - Angelic
Love clings to you forever, whether you’re in it or out of it. Like an apparition you can’t shake, it never leaves. Love Ghost’s music conjures a style equally informed by Seattle tradition and Souncloud-era fearlessness. Love Ghost is for the misfits, and their music mostly deals with personal battles of mental health.
Country/Review Country Risqué - Depression Drawer
Country Risqué, "America's Riskiest Country Band," helmed by singer-songwriters Miles Gordon and Daniel Bromfield, lives by a direct and pure mission statement: “classic honky-tonk, modern values.” The songwriters met in Eugene, Oregon, in 2012, and upon finding themselves both in San Francisco, they recruited Richard Moog (lead guitar) and Tomas Georgiou (drums) to round out the band.
Country/Review The project - what's it going to take (feat. Mykele Hill)
The project is the brainchild of the California rock scene’s own James Davis, who originally made waves in the 00s with his previous band Shameless as lead guitarist. The band won Best Hard Rock Band at the Southern California Music Awards in 2006, Best Hard Rock Band Rock City News in 2005 and 2006, and Best Metal Band at the Inland Empire Music Awards in 2006.
Rock/Review Ivan Beecroft - Carousel
Ivan Beecroft is a songwriter and musician from Melbourne, Australia. In the last two decades, Ivan Beecroft has been a major contributor to Melbourne’s thriving underground music scene. He was very fortunate to be around when grunge took off in the 90s and when St. Kilda’s underground music scene was at its peak, with artists such as Tex Perkins (Beasts of Bourbon,The Cruel Sea), Paul Hester (Crowded House), Sean Kelly (The Models), and many more having commercial success at the time.
Metal/Review Just One Fix - Gods & Devils
Just One Fix's evolution has seen them grow from their straight thrash roots to incorporate elements of death and doom metal, which has led to the band's tracks being featured around the world on radio, TV, and compilation albums. Crushing live shows and the ability to drive crowds to the next level have been rewarded with guest appearances on bills with Megadeth, Korn, Hellyeah, Fear Factory, Biohazard, Black Label Society, Chimaira, and many more.
Rock/Review The Silent Era - Heaven//Hell - Slowpio
The Silent Era is a London-based alt-rock quartet blending industrial, goth rock, shoegaze, and post-punk to create heavy, dreamy soundscapes woven through with introspective lyrics that explore the darker side of human nature. Vocalist Bri Macanas (Black Palms, The Midnight Vortex, Silhouettes), guitarist Chris Schwarten (Ghost Wives), and multi-instrumentalist but mostly bassist Nicolas Zappa (also Ghost Wives) started the band during the pandemic. They were later joined by drummer Jo Eiffes (Silhouettes, Perfect Flaws).
Hip-Hop/Review La’ Von J - God Did It
Meet La' Von J, an eccentric soul artist from Lufkin, Texas. Known for his powerful, passionate, and vulnerable lyrics paired with a sexy neo-soul/g-funk sound with some gospel influences. His music promotes resilience, faith, diligence, and self-mastery. La' Von J has a variety of musical influences from genres like G-Funk, Southern Rap/Hip-Hop, Neo Soul/R&B, all the way to Blues, Jazz, and Gospel.
Hip-Hop/Review Looney Mack - Prince of Persia Swag (feat. Goldmouth & 707 Cortez)
Looney Mack is a local rap artist with a Gen X perspective.
Rock/Review Gary Dranow - Hadrian's Wall
Gary Dranow, Chris Zoupa, Jason Jones, Roman Burda, Klim Apalkov, and Roman Kuznetsov unite their global talents, fusing rock, blues, and metal influences to craft a unique sonic experience. Drawing inspiration from Hendrix, Vaughn, and Metallica, their music weaves blues rock, hard rock, and metal, enriched by personal experiences and diverse influences. The band's journey overcame personal battles, including Gary Dranow's bipolar disorder, infusing their music with authenticity and raw emotion.
Hip-Hop/Review Gucci Leek - P.G.L.G (pretty gurls luv gucci)
Hailing from Paterson, New Jersey, is hip-hop's newest artist, Gucci Leek. Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Maalik Boggan Gucci Leek is an African American hip-hop recording artist who performs in the trap music genre. It was his freshman year in high school, in which he had been given the name Gucci Leek by his team members, observing that he always listened to the rapper Gucci Mane. One teammate called him Gucci Leek, and the name has stuck with him ever since. With Gucci Mane being his biggest inspiration, Gucci Leek is honored to carry the name "Gucci.”
Metal/Review Suicide Puppets - Beyond The Veil
Suicide Puppets is a nationally touring five-piece metal band hailing from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and has been touring regionally since the band's beginning in 2007. Blasting their audience to bloody bits of sonic shrapnel, the Suicide Puppets feature Twisty Suicide on vocals, Jonny Suicide on bass and backup vocals, Steven Suicide on lead guitar, Donnie Von Gailinger on rhythm guitar, and Veritas Suicide on drums.
Rock/Review Ratchet - Closing The Door
Ratchet is an independent indie/alternative artist based in the Netherlands. After trying to impress a girl by learning the guitar, he now makes music on a daily basis and isn't planning to stop anytime soon. His music is best described as a stroll in the middle of the night through a lit-up city. Every song has its own (dark) aesthetic, and most of the time it tells a story about Ratchet's personal problems.
Pop/Review Naked Brunch - Human Dust
The music of the London 5-piece Naked Brunch bridges the space between chamber pop and post-punk. With a harmonic backbone of cello, viola, and bass, the group produces an atmospheric and contemplative sound that is cut through with the addition of guitar. The low and gravelled tones of one voice weave within the hypnotic highs of another, the two singers combining to create a vocal channel that is as prominent in sparse acoustic duets as it is in the texture of the band’s full sound.