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Interdisciplinary music artist GINJA has unveiled her latest track, “where ma money at,” a brilliant showcase of her

The post DIMINISHING: New York/Texas-Based Duo To Release Conceptual EP, The Outcome, May 29th Through Anti-Corp Music; “Part II” Single/Visualizer, Preorders, And Bandcamp Listening Party Posted appeared first on INFRARED MAGAZINE.

The New York Rats are pulling no punches with the release of their latest track, “Dark Age of

[Cover artwork by Luca “Zeero” Zironi]

There was always something uniquely charming about Konquest’s brand of traditional heavy metal—an almost whimsical breeziness that still felt like a near perfect balance of playful and substantive. A long-lost Italian cousin to Sweden’s Heavy Load, perhaps. Just as easily played in the car as dissected at home. That all-purposeness has served Konquest well. And with Dark Waters, the band’s third full-length, I was hoping for much of the same.

Not that the band had ever given cause for concern, but Dark Waters certainly delivers on the promise of Konquest’s two prior records. Same whimsical breeziness. Same near perfect balance of those disparate elements that make Konquest’s take on traditionalism compelling. Deceptively simple—the kind of “simple” borne from either a whole lot of thought and preplanning about feel, impression, and songcraft, or just the natural collision of ideas that, as fate would have it, sticks the landing. I suspect a combination of the two.

As tradition would demand, Dark Waters continues Konquest’s history of eight-song albums. Here, as with Time and Tyranny, and The Night Goes On before it, you’re treated to seven relatively shorter tracks and an epic closer (“Kubla Khan (A Vision in a Dream)”). Opener “Turn the Lights Off” is a vibe setter if there ever was one, establishing the aforementioned breezy tone early. Of the other six shorter tracks, it delivers the most immediate punch, which is why it’s as effective as it is as an opener—I don’t know that it would have made as much sense elsewhere on the album. Consistent with a few other songs here, the rhythm or pace isn’t too far removed from punk, toying with early NWOBHM aesthetics.

The second track, “Mindwanderer,” is as emblematic of the general impression Dark Waters leaves as any song on the album. Mostly midpaced with a sing-a-long chorus and a killer riff in the driver’s seat. “Mindwanderer” is in keeping with Konquest’s breezy ethos and keeps the listener’s interest with a particularly strong lead toward its end.

Of the remaining four shorter tracks, the title track and “Man with a Stone” resonate strongest. The anthemic feel of the former is appropriately distinctive and the latter is the riffiest song on an album rooted in the riff—easily one of my favorite Konquest tunes.

The epic “Kubla Khan (A Vision in a Dream)” is Konquest’s crowning achievement. Though it changes pace about two minutes in, its longer, more atmospheric introduction would sound more at home on Iron Maiden’s Brave New World or The Final Frontier. And there are enough similarly progressive touches throughout that the song itself feels notably different from the other seven shorter tracks. The sheer scale of a tune like “Kubla Khan” towers above the rest of Dark Waters; you can’t but want more songs in this vein.

Summarily, Dark Waters is another clear winner for Konquest. In times of uncertainty, there’s something to be said for a world which appreciates both consistency in quality and welcoming familiarity. With their third full length, Konquest may not have created that world, but they have certainly expanded on it.

The post Konquest – Dark Waters Review appeared first on Last Rites.

Words by: Belinda Quick Photos by: Missy Smiley Special thank you to The Phoenix AU “His ear heard more than was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought” – John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men When considering the most enduring, resonant and methodical voices of […]

She wrote it with Burt Bacharach back in the '90s. Continue reading…

Koyo have released their sophomore album, Barely Here, out now via Pure Noise Records. Clocking in at ten songs in just 28 minutes, the album is a lean blast of incredibly anthemic punk that packs the firecracker guts of The Movielife, the widescreen hooks of Taking Back Sunday, and the tuneful grit of Silent Majority, […]

The name is D, y’all! And he don’t play! And he can rock a block party till your hair turns grey! Or until his hair turns grey! Until everybody’s hair turns grey and we’re all just collectively staring down old-age-oblivion! He explodes on site, he’s like Jimmie Walker, he’s dy-no-mite, etc. A few weeks ago,…

The post Mike D Shares Solo Debut “Switch Up,” First New Music From Any Beastie Boy In 15 Years appeared first on Stereogum.

Redondo Beach rock and Americana artist Hunter Benson continues to captivate listeners with his deeply personal songwriting, recently

This complete Maren Morris song list brings together every officially released track from her catalog, covering albums, singles, and key collaborations in one place. She began releasing independent material early, including the album Walk On in 2005, followed by All That It Takes in 2007 and Live Wire in 2011. Those early projects established her as a developing artist with a strong writing voice and set the stage for the breakthrough that would come a few years later, when she moved more firmly into the Nashville scene. That breakthrough arrived with the release of her self-titled EP Maren Morris in

The post Complete List Of Maren Morris Songs From A to Z appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.