New music

Carbonstone Tackles Dark Inner Thoughts in New Single “Echoes”

October 25, 2024 — Leave a comment

Alt-metal band Carbonstone is back with new music. The Maryland-based outfit is set to release their latest single, “Echoes,” on October 26th, and after my first few listens, I have to say this one hits hard.

Carbonstone has never been a band to shy away from the darker side of self-reflection, especially the negative views we as humans often have of ourselves. “Echoes” puts words to that moment we peer into the mirror with complete honesty. It dives unflinchingly into the feeling of being trapped in your own head, succumbing to the belief that you are not enough and have failed in some immeasurable way because things didn’t work out as planned. 

According to front man Corey James, the song is about heavy reflection and looking back at “fucked-up tragic events, or ‘echoes,’ that ultimately shape us into who we are.” For better or worse, life happens, and we are molded by external factors beyond our control. “Failed dreams, failed goals and aspirations, failed relationships,” James lists. “Substance abuse, and so on.”

The track is penned as a note to oneself. “You take the time to watch me bleed/Over and over/It’s like you love my suffering/This pain is contagious…” It is only too easy to spiral into the abyss once the narrator begins listening to those internal voices. “I see my ghost, it’s echoing/Repeating my failures/When I’m alone, it’s so haunting/The shadows consume me…”

“Bury me underground, I’ll lie with you/’Cause alone I’m nothing/Searching for anything to get me through/I’m so self-destructive.”

“The hook/chorus is basically about just giving in and submitting to everything, as it’s the only alternative to facing yourself alone,” James explains.

“Echoes” is a juxtaposition of hauntingly melodic singing and heavy, gritty music: an audio presentation of the emotions poured into the song. The choice of clean vocals for the majority of the track works on multiple levels. James was able to masterfully color his lyrics with the pain and resignation expressed in the words. Raging screams threaded throughout are the cries of hopelessness. Meanwhile, the other band members – guitarists Josh Provencio and Steve Junkins, bassist Eric Dee, and drummer Ted Hile – intricately weave together a sonic manifestation of anger and frustration. One final scream and the closing chorus are the last ounce of fight poured forth before our narrator ultimately accepts his/her fate and throws in the towel.

“Echoes” hooked me in from the first note and is a song that is well-crafted, relatable, and holds its listeners in thrall from start to finish. Carbonstone nailed it on all fronts. The song will hit streaming platforms at midnight. Meanwhile, the official music video drops tonight, October 25th, at 8 p.m. EST! Make sure to tune in to the band’s Facebook live at 7 p.m. EST for some drinks and other shenanigans.

If you haven’t already, visit Carbonstone’s socials and follow them on your favorite streaming service so you never miss a release – starting with “Echoes.”

Albums Released January to June 2024

June 30, 2024 — 1 Comment

There have been several albums released so far in 2024, and I decided to compile them in a post separate from the EPs. Much as with the other list, I am sure I’ve missed a few, so if there are any you know of that are not shared here, feel free to tell me in the comments!

Be sure to check out my list of EPs that have dropped over the past 6 months, as well!

EPs Released January to June 2024

June 30, 2024 — 1 Comment

There have been quite a few EPs released so far this year, and I decided to put a list together at the halfway point (June). I’m sure I’ve missed several, but these are the ones I have found. Please keep in mind that my focus is the lesser known indie community. If you have an EP to add to this list, feel free to drop a comment!

Note: I will be doing a separate post for the full-length albums released within the same time frame.

No Trees Touch The Sky Share New Song, “See This Through”

June 28, 2024 — Leave a comment

Alternative rock/metal outfit No Trees Touch The Sky released their latest single, “See This Through,” today! The track was produced by Fred Mascherino (ex-Taking Back Sunday, The Color Fred, Say Anything) and recorded, mixed, and mastered by Stephen Angello at Diver Down Studios in West Chester. 

Staying true to their roots, “See This Through” is a mix of musical modernity and early 2000s nostalgia. The influence of such acts as Saosin and Circa Survive is heavily felt in both vocal and instrumental style: the song would not be out of place on a current edition of Warped Wednesdays!

“See This Through” starts with a mellow ambience that, when paired with the smooth, melodic vocals, sets a tone of solemnity, a tone further emphasized by the lyrical content. “…And in time you will see that we mean nothing at all/’Cause you were never the kind to see things through to the end…”

The mood shifts with the change in the music, the band launching into a heavier and faster pace. Singing artfully interlaced with growls/screams carry the listener through a range of emotions – frustration bordering on anger, and a certain amount of resigned acceptance. “I should have known.”

“See This Through” seems to tell a tale as old as time. A narrator lamenting that (s)he saw the signs, the truth about someone, and either missed them or ignored them in favor of the good, at least for a while. This is a universal human weakness, in both personal relationships and on the much larger scale of our society. And when the tides turn, we feel disappointed, defeated, yet we must resign ourselves to what we didn’t want to know. “I should have known who you were from the start.”

A track that is deeply relatable and wonderfully reminiscent, “See This Through” is playlist worthy for any rock, metal, post-hardcore, ambient, alternative…any fan of music, period, and is now available everywhere! 

Follow No Trees Touch The Sky on their socials and your favorite streaming platform to stay up-to-date with news and new releases.

Til Fauna Weaves an Enchanting Spell With New Song “Whisper”

June 7, 2024 — Leave a comment

Til Fauna, an ambient/progressive metal band from Birmingham, Alabama, just dropped their latest single, “Whisper,” on May 31st. The track offers insight into the lore surrounding Til Fauna and the antlered being, Whisper, that is a recurring theme in their imagery.

The three musicians – Vesper (guitar/vocals), Blight (bass/harsh vocals), and Phasmid (drums) – have a connection to the land around them. “Whisper” draws upon the many tales and superstitions linked to the Forests of Appalachia. It is said that you may hear the woods whispering your name, and you are strongly warned against answering.

Til Fauna has a slightly different viewpoint on this. “I wanna know what do they see…” What if the whispers are simply you calling yourself back home to the woods? Rather than being frightened, the band begs the question “Why do you scream my name?/Do I answer?”

Til Fauna utilizes the softer side of themselves to set the atmosphere. Soothing intonations and a melodic rhythm paint the image of a nighttime walk into the forest, though there is a certain eerie edge, the primal sensation of not being alone. “Their eyes watching me closely.” And at the chorus, the track erupts. Our narrator has heard the tantalizing voice. “I hear a whisper!/Louder, why do you scream my name?”

As the song descends back into the calm, there is no sense of fear, only the approach of acceptance. It is clear that there is no reason to heed the warnings, to turn back. The traveler is becoming further ensconced in the forest and with the spirits, but it is welcome. “The silence is gripping me/The forest is slowly digging deep.” With the hit of the second chorus, the band has given us the back-and-forth that echoes the narrator’s struggle: on the verge of seeking the source of those whispers, though still wondering “Do I answer?”

Then, the build of anticipation, the balance on the very edge, before the truth is revealed. “I am the whisper!” Nature plays tricks on us, but those who can truly see are led to something like self-discovery. The blistering breakdown culminates in the total surrender to who our journeyer is. “As I walk, as I fear, I become/I am the whisper.”

“Whisper” is a standout track, showcasing Til Fauna’s ability to be melodic and almost ethereal, as well as hard-hitting and heavy. The song is an adventure to the ears and the mind, a case of lyrics and music woven into a story that climbs to and explodes with its catharsis. I have listened to it several dozen times since its release, and I find something new to focus on with each play-through. Check it out below, or look it up on your favorite streaming service. I promise you won’t be disappointed.  

Follow Til Fauna on their socials and your chosen streaming platform!

Seethe Offers Another Glimpse Into Darkness With New EP, ‘Schisms & Pendulums’

May 12, 2024 — Leave a comment

Alternative/trap metal artist Seethe has never been one to shy away from the darker side of the human condition, and his forthcoming EP Schisms & Pendulums is yet another testament to this. Set to be released May 15th, the three-song record takes on the harrowing subjects of modern organized religion and the battle with cancer.

“I was listening to Deftones’ self-titled album and Nirvana’s In Utero quite a bit while writing this EP,” Seethe explains. “Not that it can necessarily be heard [musically], but I feel I caught the vibe and essence of both albums. Dirty, yet clean enough to not sound like garbage. This is also thanks to the production by Vixlence Beatz and Gus Wallner’s mixing and mastering.”

As with much of Seethe’s creations, Schisms & Pendulums is an EP meant to be felt as well as heard. The first track, “Coalesce,” is filled with disgust and rage, which colors every lyric, intonation, and the stylings of the accompanying music. “It’s a stab at modern day religion,” Seethe says. “Not that God and Jesus don’t exist, but more how modern religion is propagated toward political welfare and also the alarming number of cases of sexual abuse and misconduct from clergymen over the last 20-30 years.”

“Coalesce” is followed by “Cascade,” a heart-wrenching ode penned from the point of view of a person witnessing a loved one struggle with cancer. Seethe wrote the song about his mother’s second fight with the illness, and the raw pain bleeds through in the words and the way in which he screams out the emotion from within. “Lights gleaming with a sense of purpose, dimming out over the cascade/Burning out without a purpose, crashing down to one’s knees…” It is an unflinching dose of reality, the bitterness borne from watching somebody wither away while trying so hard to stay strong.

“Dreary” is the other side of the same coin, a story told from the patient’s point of view. Fraught with frustration and anger, the narrator looks back on life and wonders “Why me? I’m a good person.” The sentiment is echoed in a line that is repeated throughout: “Cure me, please, you owe me this.” 

Schisms & Pendulums will hit all major streaming platforms on May 15th! You can presave the EP here, and visit Seethe’s other socials to make sure you never miss an update!

Shallow Side Drops New Collaboration With Nonpoint’s Elias Soriano

April 26, 2024 — Leave a comment

Alabama rockers Shallow Side have released their latest single, “Filters,” which features a guest appearance by Nonpoint vocalist Elias Soriano. This is one of the heaviest songs Shallow Side has ever put out, and I am digging it! Check out the official video below and be sure to add “Filters” to your playlists on your favorite streaming service.

“Filters” will be airing on Sirius XM Octane at the times listed below:

  • Fri, 4/26 – 9 PM ET/6 PM PT
  • Sat, 4/27 – 12 PM ET/9 AM PT
  • Sun, 4/28 – 6 PM ET/3 PM PT
  • Mon, 4/29 – 3 PM ET/12 PM PT
  • Tues, 4/30 – 9 AM ET/6 AM PT
  • Wed, 5/1 – 10 PM ET/7 PM PT

No Trees Touch The Sky Releases New Single, “Sunrise”

April 26, 2024 — Leave a comment

Pennsylvania-based alternative band No Trees Touch The Sky released their latest single, “Sunrise,” on April 19th. The song was recorded at Diver Down Studios with Stephen Angello and Fred Mascherino and is streaming everywhere.

“Sunrise” possesses a mellow, ambient vibe that is reminiscent of such artists as Thirty Seconds To Mars and Incubus. There is an underlying energy, a tension that breaks with each chorus before settling back into a soothing melody and smooth vocals. The track reaches its crescendo at the 2:16 mark, the second chorus leading straight into a beautifully clean guitar solo.

Listen to “Sunrise” below, then add it to your playlist!!!! And get ready for more from No Trees Touch The Sky in 2024!

Shadows Calling Showcase Their Versatility on New EP, ‘These Scars’

April 15, 2024 — Leave a comment

Shadows Calling is a female-fronted alternative rock band hailing from Cork, Ireland. They released their debut EP, Spirit Shifter, in early 2023. Now, the five-piece outfit is back with These Scars, a four track EP that dropped March 22, 2024.

Shadows Calling boasts a group of musicians who delve into the many aspects of the rock and metal genres, paired with singer Jen Vaughan’s powerful vocals. The band utilizes a vast array of sounds and melodies on These Scars, which clocks in at 17 minutes and balances the fast-paced and upbeat with the slow, dark, and moody.

The EP kicks off with “Dead Long Enough,” a heavy opener with tasty guitar parts that will make listeners want to bang their heads and sing along. The song is a 2:47 driving piece that would be at home on any modern rock playlist. Shadows Calling switches gears with the title track, “These Scars,” which has a deliciously gritty groove that brings to mind such classic metal acts as Metallica and Black Sabbath. Jen toys with the rougher edge of her voice throughout, showcasing a range that is expertly manipulated to match the tone set by the music.

“The Lost” is another nod to the vintage, melodic with a hint of funk, and Jen’s vocals positively soar. I can’t put my finger on exactly why, but this is my favorite of the four songs. The EP closes with “Ships,” and here again the band ventures into different territory. This epic track takes the listener on a journey. The music itself runs through a hard rock start, a nasty heavy metal breakdown at its heart. Listeners are then granted by a brief interlude of nothing but bass and the ethereal facet of Jen’s singing before the song ends on a guitar fade out.

Shadows Calling has packed a punch with These Scars, making a statement that they will not be ignored with four catchy, captivating tracks that will grab you and not let go. For any fan of hard rock, metal, and/or grunge, this EP is a must-hear!

Be sure to follow Shadows Calling on their socials so that you don’t miss any updates or new music! The band has had quite a year, and I believe they have a promising future ahead.

A Place i Know Share Two New Tracks to YouTube

April 6, 2024 — Leave a comment

A Place i Know is a rock band hailing from Ohio. A combination of members from South of Eden and Harmless Habit, this new project has already had an exciting 2024, from releasing their debut single “Good Enough” to playing their first show together at The Summit Music Hall in Columbus.

Now, A Place i Know has posted two new singles, “Home” and “Save Me,” exclusively to YouTube. The songs will be available everywhere next week.