Female-Fronted Friday: 13 Spiders

When: 2021

Where: Knoxville, TN.

Genre: Hard rock/Alt-metal

FFO: Flyleaf (early), 3 Pill Morning, 10 Years

13 Spiders was originally founded in 2021 by Alicia Hurst. She was the bassist and planned to put together an all-female act, but that didn’t work out. In order to keep the band alive, Alicia opened the door to any musician who was interested. She managed to find a bassist, guitarist, and drummer, yet the position of vocalist was a difficult one to fill. As the author of the lyrics and the vocal melodies, Alicia was pushed to the forefront of 13 Spiders.

13 Spiders’ current lineup consists of Alicia (vox), Mike (bass), Andrew (guitar), and Scott (drums). Real life has intervened and stalled the release of new music, but the band does have songs in the studio just waiting for their producer to get in with Alicia to lay down the vocal tracks! The most recent single is “You,” which dropped in late 2024. They do have an upcoming track entitled “Scarred Innocence.” The song was written as a voice for child victims of sexual abuse and is based on a real-life case that occurred locally to them.

Make sure you follow 13 Spiders on all their socials, as well as your streaming service of choice, so you don’t miss any news or the studio release of “Scarred Innocence” (they have been performing it live).

“You”

“Scarred Innocence” [Live]

Female-Fronted Friday: Anaria

When: 2011

Where: New England

Genre: Rock/Symphonic Metal

FFO: Nightwish, Edge of Paradise, Within Temptation

Having existed in some form or fashion since 2011, Anaria currently consists of vocalist Jessica Mercy, guitarists Sergio Salvucci and Dan Spinney, bassist Matt Frotten, and drummer Johnathan Jena. The band is genre-defying, but the most prevalent elements in their music are symphonic metal, modern rock, and cinematic scoring, with a sprinkling of pop.

Anaria has released five full-length albums – Ancestors (2014), Seasons of the Mind, Vol. 1: Inception (2015), Exile (2020), Holding Cell (2024), and Between Loving and Dying (2026). Their latest single, “From the Dark,” hit streaming platforms back in March. All of their audio, video, and photo production is done in-house, as Sergio and Jessica have built their own production company. Jessica also doubles as a freelance singer/songwriter.

To learn more about Anaria, or to simply keep up with their various goings-on, follow them on all the usual socials/streaming services!

“From the Dark”

“Chasing Shadows”

“Awaken”

“Wings of a Butterfly” (HIM cover)

Female-Fronted Friday: No More Sun

When: Founded in 2015

Where: Hudson Valley, NY

Genre: Alt. Metal/Hard Rock

FFO: Spiritbox, Jinjer, New Years Day

Formerly known as No Worries, No More Sun is the modern face of alternative metal and rock. The band hails from New York and consists of vocalist/bassist Julia Foreman, drummer Andrew Gauzza IV, and guitarists Alex Hicks and Charles Apollo. Over the past couple of years, No More Sun has been dropping singles regularly, and in February 2023, they released a full-length album entitled No Worries.

You can check out their latest single, “Unspoken Mind,” below, along with a few other choice songs. Be sure to follow their socials for updates, music news, and details on upcoming shows – they have a few June dates lined up that you don’t wanna miss!

“Unspoken Mind”

“Sick of You”

“Leech”

“Odd One Out”

Noir Addiction Shares New Single + Video: “How She’s Got It”

Italian alternative/industrial outfit Noir Addiction have served up their latest offering, “How She’s Got It.” You can check it out on your favorite streaming service and watch the video below (or on YouTube).

This is the second single from Noir Addiction’s upcoming EP, which will be released in July!

Listen on Spotify.

Listen on Apple Music.

Seven Year Witch Offers a New Take on Blue Oyster Cult’s Classic Hit [Video]

South Carolina-based rockers Seven Year Witch have released their version of Blue Oyster Cult’s 1981 hit “Burnin’ For You.” Check it out below!

Female-Fronted Friday: Little Evil

When: Founded January 2023

Where: Iowa

Genre: Hard rock

FFO: The Pretenders, No Doubt, Garbage

Little Evil consists of vocalist Nico Merschman, bassist Alexxx Bentzinger, guitarist Bryer Meierotto, and drummer Tim Wardlow. This dynamic quartet classifies themselves as “hard rock” or “river rock,” but they do not limit themselves to those labels. Listening to them, you will find yourself moved by a ballad, pumped by a punk-tinged anthem, swaying to a bluesy track with a haunting atmosphere, or headbanging to a raw rock song!

You can listen to their latest single, “Graveyard Kisses,” along with a few other releases, down below. Make sure you check out their socials for upcoming live shows, music news, and much more!

“Graveyard Kisses”

“Little Devil”

“Riverview”

“Fortify”

Female-Fronted Friday: Hooked Like Helen

When: Formed in 2016, writing music for TV and movies. Began focusing on touring in 2023.

Where: Northeast Ohio

Genre: Alt-rock/Sad glam

FFO: Evanescence, Tori Amos, Jewel, Lacuna Coil

At its core, Hooked Like Helen is made up of husband-and-wife Nikki and Jon Stipp. The band explores topics such as mental health, unresolved trauma, and addiction recovery in their music, fostering a safe space for healing for both themselves and their fan base. They have provided music for films and TV, and they have opened for such artists as Scott Stapp, Jewel, and Hinder.

Hooked Like Helen’s latest single, “I Don’t Mind,” deals with the subject of unrecognized and therefore unprocessed trauma. Check it out below, along with a few of my other favorite HLH tracks! And be sure to follow/subscribe to their various socials for tour dates, new music announcements, and much more!

“I Don’t Mind”

“Promise Me You’ll Run”

“Fraud”

“Sleepwalker”

Female-Fronted Friday: Solar

When: Formed in 2003

Where: Rockford, IL

Genre: Hard rock/Metal

FFO: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Warlock, Judas Priest, Megadeth

Solar is a four-piece rock band that consists of lead vocalist Stephanie, guitarist/vocalist Brad, bassist Larry, and Donovan the drummer. They have graced stages all across the U.S. with their seamless blend of heavy and melodic, and have released four full-length records: First Light (2006), Radiance (2021), Oracle (2022), and Frantically Calm (2025).

You can check out a few of my favorite Solar tracks below. Make sure you follow their socials for the latest music, news, and live show announcements.

“Rise”

“Frantically Calm”

“Glow”

“Mr. Stitches”

“I Don’t Owe You Anything”