FOR FANS OF: Veruca Salt, Smashing Pumpkins, Stone Temple Pilots Sunlust, a female fronted rock band from Toronto, Canada, released their debut album Geek Confessions on April 12th. Keep on reading to get to know Sunlust and learn a bit more about their latest releases! 1) Who are the members of Sunlust and how did you all meet? Dan - We have 3 members in Sunlust - playing guitar and singing is Stephanie Woulfe, on the bass we have Stefano Signorile, and I (Dan Wiktor) playing the drums. The band kicked off in 2018 when Stephanie found my kijiji drummer ad. She brought forth a bundle of songs that she demoed throughout the last couple years and we began trying out the tunes. I got Stefano to join us soon after. Me and Stefano studied at York University and we became buds from our freshmen year in 2012. From then on we’ve been rehearsing, recording, and gigging. It's wild to think it's been nearly 3 years since we’ve started the band! We’re thankful for it and have been growing together ever since. 2) What is the meaning of the album title Geek Confessions? Steph - The album title Geek Confessions comes from the title of a song that isn’t on the album, called ‘Outright Loser Geek Confessions’. I liked Geek Confessions as a phrase, because it’s sort of weird sounding. When I looked at the collection of songs on the album, I realized they were all very much my little inner-world confessions, so Geek Confessions was fitting as an album title. We debated going with just the classic eponymous album title, but I think something original like this is a little more interesting and memorable. 3) What was your favorite song to write for Geek Confessions? Steph - All of the songs on the album have a lot of meaning to me personally. Because I wrote them all over a period of about 3 years, they all have their own individual feeling and journey behind them. I have favourite moments and things about all of the songs - I love the riff for "Year of the Rat", I love the story behind Pearl Brain, I love the differentness and explorative feeling of "Goodbye", and I love the lyrics in "Existor"… All of the songs feel like my precious little children and I love them all in different ways. 4) Who are some of your musical influences? Steph - I’d say the biggest influences on the songwriting for Geek Confessions were Nirvana, Hole, the Pixies, and the Breeders. The 90s alternative and grunge scene was highly influential on me as a songwriter. However, I am also very inspired by newer artists, like Courtney Barnett, Mac DeMarco, St. Vincent, White Reaper, FIDLAR, Idles, Bully, Starcrawler, PUP, Skating Polly, Charly Bliss ... the list goes on. I love to discover new music and I am constantly appreciating and taking notes from different elements of different artists, whether it be their stage presence, their lyrics, their authenticity, their character, etc. Dan - I appreciate modern bands like Arcade Fire, Royal Blood, Arctic Monkeys, and Radiohead to name a few. From a drumming perspective I’ve definitely paid my dues to tracks from Cage the Elephant, The Strokes, The Beatles, and Zeppelin.. Stefano - in terms of being a bass player, my biggest influences are Paul McCartney, Geddy Lee, and Flea. Paul because he is able to make some very colourful bass lines, without being hard to play. Geddy because of how he is able to play such intricate bass lines while also singing and playing synthesizer and keys. It’s absolutely mind-melting. Finally, Flea because not only is he one of the best slappers, he has an enormous amount of energy and presence on stage, which is something I try to emulate when I perform. 5) Where did you come up with the band name Sunlust? Steph - Coming up with a band name was actually a lot of internal pressure for me since I’ve been dreaming of being in a band for so long, but I just ended up making a list of cool sounding phrases and words on a paper, and Sunlust was one of the things I came up with. I have a very intense connection with summer and all the senses that surround it, and a lot of my lyrics have to do with warmth and seeking the sun, so Sunlust ended up making a lot of sense as a band name. It also rolled off the tongue nicely and wasn’t taken by any other music artists, so we went with it! 6) If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be? Dan - I’ll go with Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder. There’s something special happening in that tune. Steph - Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) by Looking Glass, I never get tired of that song and it always makes me feel warm and fuzzy Stefano - 2112 by Rush. The song might as well have many different elements and moods if I can only pick one! Rush is also one of my all-time favourite bands. 7) If you could tour with anyone, who would it be? Steph - Touring with FIDLAR seems like it’d be a pretty damn fun time. Dan - Cage the Elephant or The Strokes would be sweet Stefano - Arctic Monkeys or Kool & The Gang 8) How would you describe your sound? Steph: A fuzzed-up ants-in-your-pants heartwarming punk rock grunge explosion with a twist of lemon and a cherry on top 9) What is 2021 looking like for Sunlust? Steph - Hopefully getting our new album Geek Confessions circulating worldwide. The album is also coming out on a limited edition 180g vinyl and will be available very soon, so that's exciting too - if anyone wants a copy just message us on our social media! We also want to record and release some new tracks and get working on new music. And gosh darnit we want to have a beer and play a show at our favourite Toronto bars! 10) What do you love about music? Stefano - I like the memories associated with different songs and albums. When I listen to music associated with specific times in my life, it takes me back to those times just as much as pictures and videos do. Dan - I love music because it's a unique form of language. It lives in its own dimension compared to how we traditionally communicate. It breathes differently and speaks loud with its universal quality. Steph - I love that no matter what is going on in my life, music is there. I can always return to it. It’s a never ending comfort. The connection I feel with music has always prevailed over most everything else in my life. Playing music and listening to music that I feel strongly about and connect with has a special otherworldly feeling of importance that I cannot really describe in words; but I know other music lovers know what I’m talking about. Follow Sunlust on Facebook, and Instagram.

FOR FANS OF: Nirvana, The Vines, Van Halen THE SESH by ZIG MENTALITY turns one year old today. It's an 5-track EP, their debut under their new name, as they were formerly named dubé. ZIG MENTALITY are a rock band from Ottawa, Ontario consisting of Dubé brothers Jig (22) on lead vocals and bass, Liam (23) on guitar, and Quinn (20) on drums and backing vocals. They're young and extremely skilled - skills of which that show obviously on THE SESH. Looking back at this EP in comparison to their newer releases, it's pretty extraordinary how far they've come in such a short amount of time. THE SESH is a literal entry to what ZIG MENTALITY's sound is fully formed today. THE SESH is a fuzz-filled, loud, bold punk-ish record, one reminiscent of Nirvana and The Vines. It's ZIG MENTALITY on the edge of leaving who they were behind and stepping into who they will become, a musical coming-of-age moment. THE SESH starts with "Sesh On" which is so, SO good. The guitar playing on this track - as with the rest of the EP - is incendiary. It's very strong, and reminiscent of Van Halen riffs. "If You Ever" follows it, and that track sounds as fresh and exciting as the first time I heard it. If "Sesh On" didn't get enough of your attention, this track will. The middle track of this EP is "Stoned Love," which is a mix between a ballad and a full mosh-pit inciting song. It starts off slow and steady and ends in a climax of sound — which is what the band refers to as a BMF, "The part of the song where the band kicks into max capacity instrumental riffing. All layers are activated. Sound spectrum is fully activated. This is what we call: Big Mother F***erness" "Who Do You Work For" follows "Stoned Love," and it's loud & furious. It's a great transition into the very last song on the EP, "Pretty Girls On Bikes." "Pretty Girls On Bikes" is catchy & fun, and an instant ZIG MENTALITY classic. I always end reviews by saying something along the lines of, "I love this artist, and I can't wait to see where they're going." With ZIG MENTALITY, I've seen where they've gone from THE SESH, and I'm both proud and in awe of them. THE SESH blew my mind, and their tracks that followed it - "Best Direction," "Triggered Emotion," "What Weighs On You," and "I&I" have all exceeded my expectations and more. ZIG MENTALITY know what they're doing, and what they're doing is making brilliant, honest, guitar-driven rock music. While THE SESH pales in comparison to their recent releases, it's still so fantastic, and I still feel as excited about it as I did from my very first listen. ZIG MENTALITY's sound today has grown and developed into something better than this EP. It's been amazing to have witnessed that development happen in real time. They're becoming a band who will unquestionably be one of the best bands of the 2020's, and I'm excited to see where else they will go with their music. Happy birthday to THE SESH, an fantastic entry to the sky-shattering, face-melting music that ZIG MENTALITY make. Follow ZIG MENTALITY on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

New Rock Mafia is the collective made up of three Canadian rock bands: cleopatrick, Ready the Prince, and ZIG MENTALITY. New Rock Mafia is a community of musicians, fans, writers, photographers, and more who are bonded together over their shared interest in guitar-driven rock music. New Rock Mafia is a beginning to an end of modern rock music that is overrun by the fake, the motto of "sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll," and the light pop beats chosen over loud guitar driven music. It is a war cry from the youths of today wanting something of substance to listen to, something real and most importantly: loud. It's been done before, actually. All of it, nothing's original about it. But in my lifetime, and as well for most of the people who support New Rock Mafia, it feels fresh and exciting, and that's because we've never had the chance to experience something like it before. New Rock Mafia is what grunge was to 80s popular music: a reaction, a counterculture, a collective of truth and guitars. The 80s brought us the death of rock 'n roll as we originally knew it to be — blues rock, guitar driven rock, rock that was for the most part, organic and not industry planted, it was real music from real people who were not dolled up, picture perfect people. Rock used to be people who off stage you probably couldn't recognize, because there was no glitz, no glamour, nothing. Just normal, average people playing music and having a good time. Hair metal bands, the general term for bands such as Motley Crue, Poison, Def Leppard, and more were rock bands popularized during the 80s that were less of original bluesy rock 'n roll and something entirely different, something almost trying to be nostalgic. At the same time, synth-driven pop music was very popularized, and took over the charts completely. People wanted music videos and not radio, wanted pretty faces and vocals, easy listening and not to be made to think or feel deeply. Rock was nothing like it had been before: it was dying, it was dead, it had its day and now it was leaving. What was put in its place, not everyone liked. The people who didn't like the popular music of the 80s were young teens and adults who you'd find in punk scenes, who probably grew up on a healthy diet of Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and Pink Floyd. Young people who loved loud guitars and music of substance, of meaning, of something real, of something unique and off the charts. Something not pushed at you by a label, something homegrown and rock 'n roll — blues influenced music, guitar driven music. These people said "NO" to what was on the radio and TV, they walked their own path instead, they supported and created a style of music they believed to be true and loved. They took all of their passion, all of their fury, all of their pain and even happiness too, and put it into their music. They didn't try to be something that they knew would sell, they tried to be themselves, just as those who came before them did, long before the 80s and the commercialization of rock. Long before rock meant a formulaic product, long before it was something long dead and packaged into a nostalgic trip and not something that was currently happening. When rock 'n roll was alive and didn't need a label, it simply just was everything. It was the air that filled your lungs, it wasn't a style, it didn't need to be a style, because it was all there was. It went unspoken like friendship. Rock 'n roll had the entire world in its clutches, then the 80s came and killed it. But the late 80s dug up rock 'n roll's coffin, and the 90s pulled all of the nails out and opened the door: the 90s raised rock 'n roll from the dead. Bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Alice In Chains took what the public easily swallowed, pop music and soulless, industry-endorsed rock music, and made them choke on it. It forced them to care about rock music again, it was back on the charts, in record stores, on your radio, performing down the street, corrupting your teenagers, your 20-somethings. It was alive and stayed alive by the youth back then and as the 90s went on, it fizzled out a little, but with the turn of the century, nu-metal, emo rock, and punk bands took it and transformed it, they kept it alive and going. Indie rock stood hand-in-hand as well: indie rock bands who often played blues rock, the closest to sound in what rock 'n roll was originally, kicked & screamed their way up the charts. Subgenre after subgenre of rock existed and people cared about it, like they once did in the 70s. Then One Direction came and everything shifted. One Direction - one boy band of many from 2011 onwards, came and put pop music back on trend, back in the top 40 charts heavily. Pop always sold, but One Direction was one of the biggest musical culture shifts in a LONG time, and it changed the music industry entirely, much like how The Beatles came to America and everything shifted as well. Do not underestimate the buying power of young women: they make the greats. From 2011 onward, pop boy bands, bands, and singers came crashing over all the charts, even in rock. Rock suddenly - almost overnight - became overloaded with soft pop rock tracks, with bands ditching their loud, noisy guitar driven sound for something easier, something lighter, something more digestible, something that appealed to families. And that, that was the start of the death of modern rock as we know it to be. Rock mainly stayed as it was - bluesy, punk, indie, underground, DIY, real, until 2013. The last new modern rock band to make guitar driven music in 2013 and succeed financially from it, was Catfish and the Bottlemen. Arctic Monkeys gave their last breath for a few years with the release of their fifth studio album, AM, which did excellently well, in 2013. That year also brought alternative pop music to brighter lights, which stormed the charts. Regardless of bands like Catfish and the Bottlemen and Arctic Monkeys, guitar driven music had very little hope of carrying on, and therefore, sunk into the ground once again. Rock was dead. Fast forward: it's 2017. Whispers of a chant from long ago is making its way into the ears of the youth. "Highway Tune," a guitar driven, hard rock song reminiscent of Led Zeppelin, was climbing up the charts by a young band, half the band not even of legal drinking age yet. Could this be it, could this be the start of rock rising for a second time? Not yet, unfortunately. The band was Greta Van Fleet, and while in the few years they've been on the public's radar and making the charts, breaking records, they haven't done anything new, possibly due to the fact that there's only Greta Van Fleet. Greta Van Fleet are alone in what they do, they do not bring a sense of community with them, they do not intend to save rock, just to play it. The bands that make up the collective known as New Rock Mafia however, came with a mission and were ready to be loud & proud about it. cleopatrick, Ready the Prince, and ZIG MENTALITY all began playing rock music under similar circumstances: they loved rock 'n roll, loved guitar driven rock, and wanted to play it themselves. That's what they did, but when they met each other and shared their minds with each other, they knew what they had to do. They had to form something that brought together not only them, but anyone else who shared similar feelings as them, who loved the same kind of rock music and disliked what was on the charts right now. It was the same notion that sparked the bands who made up what we call the grunge movement of the late 80s and early 90s, in reaction to the music that the 80s boosted. They didn't want to follow a trend, they didn't want to make music that they knew would surely sell, they wanted to make their own path and that's what they've done. New Rock Mafia, the three founding bands: cleopatrick, Ready the Prince, and ZIG MENTALITY have all made guitar driven music that is of substance, meaningful, and is real. It is not easily swallowed, but once down, much pleasure is felt. It is loud, noisy, fuzzy, truthful rock: it is everything that rock needs to be alive again, and they've done it. In them, rock lives, rock thrives, rock rattles and moans and shakes, and burns down everything we have gorged ourselves on in recent years. They've arrived, and they're going to stay here for the long run. New Rock Mafia, much like rock 'n roll, isn't a singular thing. There's many other youths just like them who make the style of rock that they do, youths who love and support it, young people who surround these three bands and agree with what they're doing and strive to do it along with them. What they're doing is making honest rock, straight up rock, no nostalgia plays, no cash-grabs, nothing soft and easy. Furious and truthful. No bullshit. New Rock Mafia, as any musical or art scene ever, isn't filled with people who all automatically like each other, but at the very minimum, have trust and hope in each other. It's not a hippie scene like the Deadheads, it's more like the Beat Generation, more like Seattle's grunge scene...There's fights and grumbling, there's everything you'd expect from a family of friends. But most importantly, it's a scene of people who are honest and truthful with each other, who inspire and influence each other, who make space for each other, who listen, who try to open their hearts and minds to each other and understand differences, who make each other better. They are people who are not trying to be anyone but themselves. What bonds all of these diverse, interesting people from all over together is their shared interest in guitar driven music and honesty. At the end of the day, however, New Rock Mafia is bigger than the individuals that keep it alive, just like the impact of grunge. It's a new name for a concept that isn't new. It is a culture shift, it is music that is real over music that is a product, it is music that inspires, that influences, that years from now, when we're unfortunately talking about what killed rock again and looking back at when was the last time it was brought back, New Rock Mafia will be what we're looking at. New Rock Mafia will be a historic mark on the long history of rock 'n roll, and so if you care about the future of rock, support it. It's just rock 'n roll anyway, true rock 'n roll, and if you missed out on it in the 90s, it's back again, you just have to listen.

FOR FANS OF: Arctic Monkeys, The Black Keys, Kings of Leon The Pale White stake their claim as the future of indie rock with debut album, Infinite Pleasure. Hot off the heels of their singles “Glue” and “Confession Box,” the trio from Newcastle are back with a swaggering, melodic full length album. The Pale White’s songwriting prowess is on full display here. Singer Adam Hope’s soaring vocals mesh seamlessly with bassist Tom Booth’s grooves, and Jack Hope’s thunderous drums. While their influences of Queens of the Stone Age, Nirvana, and Interpol are clear, The Pale White are uniquely their own band with their own sound, and it’s never clearer than on Infinite Pleasure. They are in their element on the more rockier tracks like the brilliant “Medicine” but their talent really shines through on the closing track, the more mellow “Frank Sinatra.” It’s a beautiful thing to see The Pale White flexing their considerable talent and not being afraid to take their sound in a different direction. Infinite Pleasure is indeed that. Be sure to catch The Pale White on tour in the UK this December. Follow The Pale White on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: Mom Jeans, Green Day, Taking Back Sunday The Weather Might Say Otherwise (TWMSO), alternative rock band from Fredonia, New York, released their newest single "I'LL DRINK TO THAT!" on Friday, April 16th. As the band matured in their writing & performing in response to the solitude given to them by the pandemic, and have eagerly ventured away from their local bubble, their creative processes have blossomed, which you’ll be sure to hear that in "I'LL DRINK TO THAT!" Lead singer Damian says, "I'LL DRINK TO THAT!" is one of the most energetic songs we have written so far. The instrumental is upbeat and moves really well, it contrasts the lyrics quite a bit. The song dives into some different themes about the darkness of drug use in general, but more so alcoholism. Drugs are a scary thing and they can really destroy you, I just try to talk about it a little bit.” The beginning of the song taps you on the shoulder with a simple yet pleasant, raw guitar riff. The band then confidently all comes together to hit you with fierce emotion. Lead singer Damian Brown’s vocals really bring you back to the 2000's throughout "I'LL DRINK TO THAT!" Towards the end you will hear some sharp guitar pick slides resembling that of later Green Day releases. Overall, "I'LL DRINK TO THAT!" does an excellent job of portraying darker lyrics while keeping an upbeat sound. Follow The Weather Might Say Otherwise on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: Jeff Buckley, Bob Dylan, Briston Maroney George O'Hanlon, a 21 year old singer/songwriter, released his debut single, "The Storm" on Harvest Records earlier this month. It's a melodic, slow rising indie rock song, one that leads to a powerful crescendo. It's a beautiful track, George's voice is gentle and sweet, the instrumentals complement his vocals amazingly, and his passion comes across as clear as water. About the track, George said "It’s quite an angry song, I wrote it during a period when there was conflict going on around me that really fed into the music." He's right - the lyrics read as telling the story of the end of a relationship, an intense fight that is spilling all over everything around them like a broken dam, people throwing angry words at the narrator like stones. But regardless of the anger thrown at him - he remains steady and strong. Overall, "The Storm" is a beautiful, cinematic track. It paints a picture in your mind, one of broken love, but also of humid, blurry city lights, and the smell of rainy summer nights, right in the middle of the season where everything is happening and it's suffocating. Those times when you simply can't bear the weight of everything, when all you want is everything to be quiet, and yourself to be held. "The Storm" is the small moments leading up to the literal and metaphorical downpour of everything good and bad, the moments before a rainstorm, as the title says. It is - much like it is sonically - a slow rise to a climax, and soft, bittersweet but necessary end. It is everything you could need in a song and more. Click here to see George perform "The Storm" live. Follow George O'Hanlon on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: The Black Keys, Grateful Dead, Rush Greta Van Fleet's sophomore album, The Battle At Garden's Gate, is finally here. It’s over a year in the making, presumably written throughout their constant 2019 touring schedule, while fully formed and recorded during 2020 - the year of very little live music. Greta Van Fleet aren’t unfamiliar to the music industry, as this is their sophomore record, but they’re still a young band, if only in age. The band is a foursome - three brothers and their friend. Sam Kiszka, on bass & keys, is just 22 years old. So is Danny Wagner, their friend - best friend to Sam - on drums. Josh and Jake Kiszka make up the rest of the band, twin brothers, age 24, soon to be 25, with Josh on vocals and Jake on guitar. What makes this band so captivating to me is the brothers’ background. They grew up in a home filled with music and books, not unordinary on the surface, but when you dig deeper and find out that the music was vinyl records (as the band themselves have put it, a “vinyl playground”) ranging across decades, from Jimi Hendrix, to Bob Dylan, to The Beatles, and to more legendary classic rock and folk artists, it starts to get interesting. The books, largely philosophy such as the works of Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, and more, authors that were advanced for young children, but the brothers read them anyway. The Kiszka brothers weren’t ever ones to keep up with the popular youth culture of the time they were growing up in, but rather preferred to immerse themselves in the music and books loved & created by young and wise people of the past. In sum, the Kiszka brothers grew up well-read and high in musical knowledge, which they’ve passed to their friend Danny, and have used both to create the music that they make, which is seen on The Battle at Garden's Gate stronger than in previous releases. I found Greta Van Fleet in January 2019, and for me, having grown up on a diet of Disney rock, early 00’s rock, boybands, and pop punk, they were unlike anything new that I’ve ever heard before. I didn't know that anyone still made that style of rock, nor would I have thought they'd be my age. The summer before that January, I had gotten into classic rock encompassingly, starting with The Rolling Stones in July, then The Beach Boys in August, Jimi Hendrix in September, The Doors in October, and so forth in the remaining months of 2018. I was entranced with all of the people who made this world of classic rock that I had begun my journey into, and I desperately wished I could have experienced something that sounded like the music these classic rock artists I so deeply loved made. I clichély felt as if I was born too late to see any of the bands who made such earth-shattering, magic-filled, guitar driven rock music, as if just like Lester Bangs said to Will in Almost Famous (2000), I “...missed out on rock and roll.” and that I “...got here just in time for the death rattle, the last gasp, the last grope.” I can’t say that Greta Van Fleet are the only ones in recent years playing rock ‘n roll - AKA bluesy, guitar driven rock, but they’re one of the biggest bands doing so at the moment, and at the time when I found them, I didn’t know of any other bands who were making music in the same style. It was my ignorance combined with my dream of being in 60’s and 70’s rock scenes that made their track, “Highway Tune,” something very powerful and exciting for me, as with the rest of their music did, as I found it following that initial track, and The Battle at The Garden’s Gate still fosters those same feelings in me. As a whole piece of work, it’s a record that is certainly unordinary among our time, much like the Kiszka brothers' childhoods. If you’re a classic rock listener, you’ll hear traces of bands like Rush and Free in this record. If you’re not, you’ll just hear Greta Van Fleet. The Battle at The Garden’s Gate is impressive for many reasons - their youth, their musical style, their playing, the fact that many songs on it go for longer than 3 minutes in a time when the music industry runs on a method of short tracks, as to get more replays & therefore more streaming royalties, and the lyrics on it that range on the simple but spiritual & powerful. “Heat Above,” “My Way Soon,” “Broken Bells,” and “Age of Machine,” were released as singles ahead of the full album release, and despite what usually happens in the streaming age of oversaturated music releases spoiling the full record, they make for a familiar and welcoming playback. “Heat Above'' is about ascending to a higher state of being, one filled with light and love. “My Way Soon,” is the most personal track on the album - one about what they’ve learned on the road in recent years, a message saying that they’ve learned much, but know that they still have so much more to learn. “Broken Bells'' is a song about holding onto hope even in the darkest of times. “Built By Nations'' is the first new track you encounter - that is, if you have been keeping up with all of the band’s previous singles from this record, one that narrates the feelings of a man in the middle of a war, a very Rush-esque track. “Age of Machine,” is commentary on the recent rise of electronics invading every aspect of our life, some even as soon as people are first resting in the womb. “Tears of Rain” is another solemn track thematically, about the rising heat levels of the Earth and prayers for relief of the cool air of night, of rain. “Stardust Chords” is about a relief from the war they’re fighting, a breaking of light in the darkness of the storm clouds. It is a moment of peace, of healing, a breath of fresh air for our wounded world. “Light My Love” is a track that is a reassurance of love existing deep in every person, a message that everything will be okay, that love will win and hate will lose. “Caravel” is a track about sailing, about moving towards the end of the world as we know it and therefore to the start of a new world. “The Barbarians” is possibly the most classic rock sounding song on this record, both in sound and in theme. It speaks of babylon, which means “a contemptuous or dismissive term for aspects of a society seen as degenerate or oppressive,” which you’ll also find the term used in reference to the scenes that the rock music of the 60’s and 70’s fostered. “Are we prisoners or renegades?” Josh asks on this track, asking if we’re being kept by babylon or if we’ve escaped it and found peace. “Trip to The Light Fantastic,” mentions dharma, which refers to the teachings of Buddhism and the realization of enlightenment - the latter is what this song is about. It’s about reaching enlightenment, of finding a better world, one that is truly and wholly peaceful. The final track on the record, “The Weight of Dreams,” is a very near 9 minutes long, capping at 8 minutes and 51 seconds, half of the track is instrumental which makes for an experience for your ears. It’s reminiscent to me of the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho which features a young man who travels to search for treasure beyond what he could ever imagine, and encounters many people and challenges on the way, learning that ultimately, it is best to do what your heart desires, and blessings will come as they belong to you naturally, in return for doing genuine, selfless good. “The Weight of Dreams,” however, is reminiscent of that story but not completely about it- it is a surrender, a giving up on dreams when faced with adversary rather than learning and working through it, which is against the lessons of The Alchemist, and is a more nihilist look on life. Overall, thematically, The Battle at Garden’s Gate is a lot to unpack and ponder on. It’s a massive personal commentary on the world around them, speaking in both metaphors and the literal in an attempt to capture some of the world’s current pain and darkness, but also to give hope & voice their well-wishes and prayers of healing for us all. It is a powerful, profound record, especially when you remember that these boys are just that: boys, who are just between the ages of 22 and 24, boys who are my age, those who I can relate to in feelings of wanting better for this planet, of wanting peace for all. It is one thing to wish you were alive when Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin were in their heydays, it is another thing to acknowledge the specialness of a band in front of you who has that very same effect and sound that I yearn desperately for, who are the same age as me, who are intelligent and mature, who are extremely skilled at making the music that they do, who are here to stay for the long run. I believe Greta Van Fleet is that band. The Battle at Garden’s Gate is a record you’ll do best for yourself to light a candle that smells like the forest, brew some tea to drink while listening to it, and really give yourself over to the musical experience Greta Van Fleet has given you. It is not a memorable album in the way that there’s nothing sonically or lyrically groundbreaking about it, but regardless, it is a good album, a beautiful album, a classically Greta Van Fleet album, a fully formed example of who they are and what they’re about, what they believe in. I can only hope that in following records they experiment with their sound, that they shake things up, but for now, The Battle at Garden’s Gate is a fine addition to their discography. Follow Greta Van Fleet on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: The Vaccines, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys Quick and Painless are an alternative rock band from Madison, Wisconsin, and on March 26th, 2021, they released an 4-track EP called Living/Loving The Lie. Quick and Painless consist of Everett Hwang Karlen (lead vocals, lead guitar), Ryan Badger (keyboards, rhythm guitar, vocals), Gray Frandy (bass), and Max Beardsley (drums, production). Living/Loving The Lie is a strong EP - one that shows firmly who Quick and Painless are, and what their sound is like. It's altogether reminiscent of early 2000's rock, a mix between Fall Out Boy's early punk days pre-hiatus, and early Arctic Monkeys, pre-AM era. It's 4 tracks of alternative rock that's loud, furious, and full of youthful pain and troubles. It's a coming-of-age climax, the part in the movie where everything is really bad just before it gets better, before the main characters heal and become who they are. It's the last drop before the roller coaster comes to a slow stop and you get off, in search of refreshment and to patiently wait for the world to stop spinning. Basically, it's a fantastic EP. "Pretty Poison" and "Apologies" complement each other as they're both about love, although the former is about brokenheartness and toxicity in a relationship, and "Apologies" is about asking for forgiveness. Both make for great listening. "Message Of A Teenage Martyr" is my favorite track out of the 4 - possibly my favorite out of Quick and Painless' entire discography so far. There's something about this track that makes me so excited, it's a strong track, full of wicked guitar sounds and lyrics that touch on the serious & brutal in a very raw and real way. It's a mosh-pit inducing song, a fantastic one. Living/Loving The Lie ends with "Conformity Culture," a track which is the band's personal look on society and disdain at the pressure it puts on all of us to conform to be a certain way. That certain way can be a lot of things, such as the ever-present pressure from social media to be perfect and have aesthetically-pleasing, ultra-filtered, and photoshopped lives, bodies, and minds, which isn't healthy. Overall, these 4 tracks are overbearingly worth listening to, worth giving a chance. Quick and Painless are a young, new band who make rock music that is real and honest, music that is a refreshing sound for your ears. Quick and Painless are currently doing live sets for four Saturdays of this month in a row. You can catch last Saturday's on their Youtube, linked below, and catch this week's live on their Youtube, so make sure you subscribe to their channel and turn on post notifications so you don't miss them while they're live! Follow Quick and Painless on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

FOR FANS OF: Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, The Kooks Portsmouth based unsigned indie rockers The Pretty Visitors are back with their third single, "Western Skies." Taking their band name from an Arctic Monkeys song, the influence and admirmation for indie rock legends is clear. "Western Skies" is a creative fusion of the current indie rock scene in the UK, mixed with hints of rap and hip-hop. Recorded at the legendary EastCote Studios, London (known for Yungblud, Skepta, Mark Ronson, The Snuts, Rita Ora), the track's lyrics are quite refreshing due to the self-awareness of them (often in a comical manner). Lyricist Connor Reid writes with a dry wit, and the storyline has a dark and relatable cleverness to it; "I'm 27 , mate, and living in the third bedroom of my parents' estate for a non-existent rate." With the Covid-19 pandemic halting their touring and festival plans, The Pretty Visitors aren’t one to let moss grow under their collective feet. Instead, they’ve focused their time and energy into new tracks, like the stadium ready "Western Skies." Keep your eyes on The Pretty Visitors. They are here for the long haul. Follow The Pretty Visitors on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: Imagine Dragons, OneRepublic, Coldplay Straight out of California, four-piece Rock ‘N’ Roll group Illumination Road releases debut single, "The Modern World." From beginning to end, this song is very new rock mixed with blues, a soulful voice and we cannot forget that iconic keyboard playing. Throwing in influences within the band such as Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Bob Marley, etc. there’s no way you can pass over this group. With already having a single like "The Modern World," it’s pretty clear that Illumination Road has more in store. The band is filled with established songwriters, producers, multi-instrumentalists, film makers and engineers, along with having their own production company, recording studio and record label. In context, they actually know what they’re doing in the industry. The music video for the single takes it even higher by providing a visual of what’s going on within the song. It’s simple, yet modern and creative. Shot at Escape Studios in Pioneertown, California, the band considers that to be their home base and wanted to show the beautiful scenery they were surrounded by while making music. "The Modern World" is very progressive rock, and the lyrics are screaming how we all could possibly feel about the world, society, life, etc. Towards the end of the song, the lyrics go “So take me with you but right before we go / I wanna take one last look around before the great machine starts breaking down / take me with you don’t leave me behind / let me tell you all you boys and girls / I hope I live to see the modern world” and I think that’s a perfect message not only for our generation, but for past and future generations as well. Illumination Road, I expect you guys to be around for a long and good time. Follow Illumination Road on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: Heart, Pat Benatar, Soundgarden “Trouble," the newest single from Jane N’ The Jungle, is here and it sure packs a punch. This Phoenix, AZ based alt-rock band has built a name for themselves in the scene and continue to release strong female-fronted rock anthems. “Trouble” wastes no time, with a powerful guitar riff right off the bat from Brian Dellis. Backed by heavy drumming, I was instantly enamored by what this song promised. Bryan Dague on bass adds the perfect depth to their sound. Jordan White comes in pretty quickly with some gorgeous vocals. She exhibits an absolutely incredible range as she moves from the first verse into the chorus, starting with a beautiful croon that’s almost reminiscent of Jewel. She then bursts into a gravely, strong belt in the chorus that left me speechless. Her voice is exactly what I imagine when I think of women in rock. It has that quintessential quality that brings me back to listening to classic rock as a kid, the likes of Joan Jett and Pat Benatar. Regarding this new release, White said “We wanted to write a song that embodied our live performance energy,” and they hit the nail on the head. This is a song that would best be experienced surrounded by fans all singing along, sweat dripping from foreheads as people move in time and the sun sets on a Jane N’ The Jungle headliner tour. This band is absolutely on my list of “must see live” artists. The music video accompanying this song is a perfect visual representation of this band's ability to mesh classic and modern elements in their sound. It’s almost as if someone filmed the perfect reel of high quality content you’d expect of a music video released in 2021, and passed some of the footage through early 2000’s MTV and this is what came out. It’s an incredible feat to be able to master the contrast between past and present, and still come out with something fresh and exciting and Jane N' The Jungle have done it with this track, and this video. Keep this group on your radar, they’re definitely ones to watch! Follow Jane N' The Jungle on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: The Black Keys, Lenny Kravitz, Greta Van Fleet Zach Person unshakably reassures us that rock 'n roll is alive and well in his debut album. The self-titled record dropped last week on April 2nd, and I can't get enough of it. Zach Person is 24 years old, and he was a House of Blues Music Forward Foundation alumnus. He was also on the 15th season of American Idol - to what singer-celebrity judges Jennifer Lopez said "He's from another time," and Keith Urban said, "You've got your own style,' and I agree with both of them. Zach Person's music is incendiary. Zach Person's music is bluesy, indie rock, and I love it. These days, you keep hearing from people like Gene Simmons making statements on how rock is dead, how there isn't any rock artists anymore, how rock isn't exciting and never will be again. You hear that rock is dead, that you can't bring it back. But I don't believe that at all, and Zach Person is exemplary proof of that belief. Rock is alive. To me, rock's never been dead, and if we're talking about rock 'n roll specially as it was during the 60s and 70s - Zach Person's got it. His self-titled record is the perfect mix of fast and slow blues rock, with a bit of modern rock thrown in, making it a great choice for a young classic rock fan. My favorite tracks off it are "All Shook Up," "Radio Man," and "Long Enough," but really, I adore the entire album, it's a work of art. I live and breathe for rock music, if that's not obvious. The style I'm fond of most, however, is the guitar driven music of the 60s and 70s. Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Foghat. Zach Person's music fits right in among them nicely. This record blows me away, and I've already listened to it way too many times. This is the kind of rock music that I constantly search for, this is what we need more of everywhere, and I can't wait to see where Zach goes with his music. I hope it's to the very top of the charts, shaking everything up. Listen to Zach Person's debut record on Spotify here. | Follow Zach Person on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.