Discover: ROAM

Formed in 2012, this UK group make high-energy pop-punk that’s ready-made for mosh pits. With the release of their first full-length “Backbone” in 2016, the band established themselves as a force of pop-punk nature, while also exploring and expanding their sound. With vocals that fall just short of screamo, frantic guitar riffs, and relentless drumming, ROAM pack quite a punch. Their roaring, fast-paced sound has remained constant throughout all their releases, and promises to continue with their upcoming album “Great Heights & Nosedives.” The first single off the new album, “Playing Fiction,” is a shining example of the best of ROAM. There’s still plenty of energy and frenetic riffs, but the vocals are clearer, the instrumentals are cleaner, and the entire single has a more streamlined feel. Despite leaving behind some of the raw and unrefined aspects of their music, ROAM are still just as earnest, emotional, and enthralling as always.

Favorites: “Playing Fiction,” “Hopeless Case,” “Warning Sign”

Similar to: Knuckle Puck, Seaway, As It Is

Related – Discover: Seaway

Halsey releases music video for “Bad At Love”

The song is taken from the pop singer’s sophomore album “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom,” released earlier this year.

 

Milk Teeth release music video for “Fight Skirt” full of tour footage

The single is taken from the band’s most recent EP “Be Nice,” out now. The video captures moments on Milk Teeth’s “Be Nice” tour that took place this summer.

Interview: Young Earth

You only have to hear one song from this Dublin group to fall instantly in love. Light and breezy instrumentals lull you into quiet contentment with the help of soft and friendly vocals. Add a slight retro twinge into the mix and you’ve got the perfect recipe for carefree sunny afternoons. At times, Young Earth take things a less airy route with indie rock guitar riffs that keep their music grounded and provide a subtle counterpoint to the buoyant vocals. “Bloodlove” shows off a darker side to the band, with mournful lyrics, whimsical vocals, and atmospheric acoustic instrumentals. With only four songs, Young Earth have already proven their ability to create catchy indie pop/rock with a variety of moods and influences.

Favorites: “Got A Secret,” “Worth It,” “Bloodlove”

Similar to: The Academic, Harlea, Fangclub

Interview:

Who are the members of the band?

Mark O’Keeffe – Songwriter, Vocalist, Guitarist

Alex O’Keeffe – Vocalist, Guitarist

Ben Mulligan – Vocalist, Drummer

Dylan Maher – Vocalist, Bassist

How did you guys meet?

We all met through BIMM, a music college in Dublin! I’m a graduate now, the other guys are still going through the degree process. We went through some initial line up changes but with Alex and Dylan joining in January things have really built up momentum.

If you could describe the band in one word, what would it be?

Ambitious!

Who are some of your biggest artistic influences as a band?

We’d all draw from different kinds of genres, as most bands do. Alex is a huge Jazz Bro, and we’re all into Hip hop/Rap in different ways too. But our main kind of influences would be guitar bands – The Vaccines, Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes. We really want to capture the excitement that they get across, that energy and vitality. especially with our newer material.

What’s your favorite city that you’ve performed in?

We’ve yet to travel overseas, so it’d have to be somewhere in Ireland! Galway was a great buzz, and Donegal (Right up the top of Ireland) was well worth the trek too this summer. It’s great to be able to visit places you’ve never been and try and spread the word, try to win over people who’ve never heard of you before.

What’s your favourite guilty pleasure song?

Well, we don’t really believe in guilty pleasures and are huge fans of any good tunes and a lot of pop music – it’s meant to be good! Right now, gonna have to go with Dua Lipa’s New Rules. Can’t help but bop to that.

Most of your music is very carefree and light-hearted. Do you think the purpose of music is to be fun and to let people have a good time?

Yeah, I spent a few years writing slower, softer more introspective stuff and while it’s great and special as a band we really want to create a good energy/buzz and transfer it to others through our live set – we want people to come to our shows and have a bop, have a good time. We do like to balance it out with heavier stuff but keep it driven with hooks and proper choruses.

“Bloodlove” is a bit darker and more melancholy than your other music. What’s the story behind this song?

Yeah, that’d be quite a personal song for us and it’s one we bring out for special occasions – we’re planning on re-recording it soon. A few of our songs touch on the same theme as bloodlove – loving someone through adversity which I’m sure a lot of people can relate to. It’s literally I love you so much, I’d give my body/life to be with you. A rare romantic moment for us!

What would your dream collab be?

I’m gonna speak on behalf of the lads and say Kanye, without a doubt. I think we’ve missed that Graduation Era boat where he did collabs with Indie bands but you never know. Slide into those DMs Ye xoxo

What are your plans for the near future?

We’ve just had a busy summer including recording the final few tracks off our Debut EP/Mini LP! We’re currently in the mixing and design stages of that, we want to really nail the whole package as it’ll be the first physical thing we release, and normally they can be a bit slapped together in the way they’re presented – lots of merch too that we’re excited about. We’re planning a big Dublin show with the release in Winter and then an Irish/UK tour in the spring!

Related – Discover: Harlea

10 Songs For Anyone Out There Who’s NOT Ready To Go Back To School

“Campus” – Vampire Weekend

“Break Free” – Cilver

“Run” – Bring Me The Horizon

“Teenagers” – My Chemical Romance

“Out Alive” – Ghost Town

“I’m Partying” – Lower Than Atlantis

“Do What You Want” – High Tyde

“Homecoming King” – Andy Black

“Cabin Fever” – ROAM

“Calendar Days” – Knuckle Puck

Related – 10 Songs For Your Extreme Workout Playlist

 

 

 

Discover: High Tyde

This playful indie pop quartet aren’t trying for a deep message or a sensitive, dreamy image. They prefer to make fun songs about having fun. If you want to let go and have a good time and think only about having that good time, High Tyde are your guys. A frequent refrain in their songs is “let go, let go,” and the band follows that mantra to the letter. Their songs aren’t tied down by typical indie plot points like mellow guitars or reflective lyrics. Instead, High Tyde invest their full energy in fun, utilizing effervescent synth melodies and electronic pop elements to bring their carefree party anthems to life. The members of High Tyde started the band in their teens, and, understandably, there’s a bit more substance and depth in their lyrical content now that they’ve grown a bit. But their easygoing, poppy indie sound doesn’t look to be going anywhere anytime soon, thankfully.

Favorites: “Glow,” “Do What You Want To,” “Speak”

Similar to: Two Door Cinema Club, Vinyl Theatre, The 1975

Weekly Roundup 8/21 – 8/27

Favorite Single: “Beautiful Is Boring” – Bones (UK)

Listen here.

 Favorite Music Video: “Anyone Else” – Pvris

Favorite Cover: “Love Will Tear Us Apart // Love Spreads” – Stillia (originally by Joy Divison and The Stone Roses)

Listen here.

Favorite EP: “Heathen” – Colouring

Listen here.

Favorite Album: “All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell” – Pvris

Listen here.

Favorite Artwork: “War” – grandson

Favorite Artist: Pvris

The Boston electro-pop-rock trio released their fantastic sophomore album “All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell” this Friday, along with a music video for “Anyone Else,” ensuring that they are our artist of the week. Listen to the album and watch the music video above.

Related – Weekly Roundup 8/14 – 8/20

 

 

Discover: Autumn Ruin

Formed in 2010, this Manchester group make melodic rock/metal. Clever guitarwork, battle-ready drums, and electronic textures create a dreamy yet grounded alt-rock soundscape. The moments without vocals are just as appealing and catchy as those with them, showing off the band’s ringing guitar solos and hook-filled instrumental melodies. Once the soaring, heart-wrenching vocals kick in, there’s an added clarity and hope in Autumn Ruin’s music. Though heavy music isn’t generally associated with happy topics, the lyrics are generally upbeat, and look on the bright side. The combination of optimistic lyrics and a solid alt-rock foundation makes each affirmation of hope or happiness sound larger than life, as it’s screamed to the heavens.

Favorites: “Brave The Fall,” “We Make Our Own Damn Luck,” “No One Does It (Like We Do)”

Similar to: Veridian, The Gospel Youth, Too Close To Touch

Album Review: Pvris’ “All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell”

There are few bands whose debut album had as much of an impact as “White Noise” did for Pvris. Their debut full-length launched them into scene stardom, and paved the way for numerous headlining tours, as well as opening slots for Muse and Fall Out Boy. This put some pressure on Pvris to keep up the good work with their sophomore album, “All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell.” To put it lightly, they pulled through.

Pvris have always precariously straddled the line between pop and rock, and this gives their work a multi-dimensionality that “AWKOHAWNOH” greatly benefits from. Any lack of heaviness in the instrumentals is evened out by the weight of the lyrics and emotional atmosphere.

This darkness is Pvris’ calling card. From dressing all in black, to releasing a host of black-and-white music videos, this is a band that takes image seriously. Perhaps this is why their songs almost sound black and white. Not because they lack emotion or color, but because they live in and describe a world of darkness, that is at once haunting and mysterious, but also crisp and clear. The absence of color takes away all the unneeded trappings and lends clarity and focus to the heart-rending vocals, the sinister synth lines, and the forlorn lyrics.

Lynn Gunn’s vocals take the spotlight on “AWKOHAWNOH,” bringing an immense depth and intensity to the songs. With a slight change in inflection, Gunn brings the lyrics to stark and beautiful life. Her vehemence when screaming “no, I never sold my soul” or the plaintive cry of “you took my heaven away” highlight the personal nature of this record. The outros to most of the songs are a repetition of one line, over and over again, Gunn’s vocals becoming more agitated as the song comes to a close. One gets the feeling that she’s repeating the lyrics in order to make herself believe them, convincing herself of their truth even as she sings them.

“AWKOHAWNOH” is a window into Gunn’s soul, a passage through which we have the privilege of seeing her innermost thoughts and struggles. It is only natural, then, that this record feels like a story playing out, something distinctly separate from the life of whoever may be listening. This is a story that holds so much personal truth and emotion that it will only ever be fully clear to one person.

This does have the effect of making the album somewhat alienating. But it’s alienating in the way that beautiful things often are. In the way that a gorgeous poem gives you shivers, or a work of art can leave you feeling unsettled. “AWKOHAWNOH” is not meant to be relatable, though there are certainly elements of it that are. It is meant to be a freeze-frame of a certain series of events, and to portray those events in all their dark and haunting glory.

“AWKOHAWNOH” is a reflective kind of story. While it’s clear that the emotions are unplanned and unpolished, the lyrics are often thoughtful and ruminative. Gunn is capable of delivering vicious and scathing lyrics without them coming off as mean, and heart-wrenchingly longing lyrics that are still clearly for her benefit and not intended for a recipient. This is an introspective record, a narrative of a range of emotions and a long and arduous thought process.

“All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell” is dark, elegant, introspective, cathartic, and beautiful. Gunn’s vocals are heart-wrenching and dynamic, and perfectly paired with the band’s haunting, brooding ambience. The record more than allays any fears there may have been over Pvris’ ability to match their first record; “AWKOHAWNOH” is a more polished, powerful, and personal version of “White Noise.” Pvris have stuck with their distinctive sound, keeping everything that made “White Noise” an incredibly successful debut, and amped it up on “AWKOHAWNOH” until the album threatens to burst with raw power.

Favorites: “Separate,” “What’s Wrong,” “Half”

Similar to: Too Close To Touch, Tonight Alive, Against The Current

Related – Discover: Pvris

High Wire announce new EP “Different Places”

The EP is due for release September 8th, and is available for preorder here.

The band had this to say on the upcoming release:

“Different Places” is a collection of songs that tell a story of personal change and self growth. It’s the journey from who you were, through the irrevocable changes in relationships, to where you are and want to be in the future. From the band’s evolving sound to the literal journey of the band members crossing state and international borders, “Different Places” is the representation of where you started, and where you are going.”