MUANH’s already know is a dreamy and emotionally rich indie pop gem that effortlessly blends dream pop textures with cinematic songwriting. Soft, layered vocals drift across lush arrangements, creating an intimate atmosphere that feels tailor-made for late-night listening. The track balances nostalgic influences with a modern sensibility, pairing romantic undertones and subtle alt-pop flourishes with a memorable melodic core. Rather than relying on glossy production, already know thrives on mood, warmth, and emotional authenticity. Its hazy beauty and understated elegance make for a captivating listen, showcasing MUANH’s ability to craft songs that resonate long after they fade away.
Flint, MI-based nü-metal experimentalists King 810 have extended their prolific run with the release of a new single, “Hungry Gods.” The track, which debuted online via YouTube and Spotify, was produced in collaboration with Josh Schroeder (Lorna Shore, Frozen Soul).
In recent years, the band have remained highly active, issuing a series of … Read More/Discuss on Metal Underground.com
LOUDERSTAR’s debut single Flickering Lights is a beautifully crafted blend of melodic shoegaze and dream pop, wrapped in waves of shimmering guitars and ethereal atmosphere. Fiora’s expressive vocals float effortlessly above the lush instrumentation, bringing both warmth and emotional depth to the track. Beneath its hazy textures lies a heartfelt message about slowing down and appreciating the moments that often pass unnoticed. The band’s ability to balance immersive soundscapes with memorable melodies makes this debut particularly compelling. Flickering Lights captures the nostalgic, reflective essence of shoegaze while introducing a fresh voice that feels both intimate and expansive.
Swedish black metal veterans Dark Funeral will release their new live album, “A Beast To Praise,” on August 21st through Century Media. The 13-track set was recorded during the band’s performance at Fållan in their hometown of Stockholm, Sweden, in 2022. Newly unveiled, is live footage of “The Arrival Of Satan’s Empire” taken from that show, st… Read More/Discuss on Metal Underground.com
Jean Elliot’s Lennon is a captivating blend of indie rock, Americana, and Australian gothic noir, combining cinematic storytelling with raw emotional depth. Driven by evocative lyricism and a subtle yet compelling indie rock energy, the track unfolds like a scene from a dark road movie, rich in atmosphere and character. Elliot’s vocal delivery shifts effortlessly between vulnerability and quiet defiance, bringing the song’s narrative to life. The balance of acoustic textures, understated rock elements, and haunting melodies creates a deeply immersive experience. Lennon highlights Jean Elliot’s distinctive songwriting voice, offering a memorable and authentic track that lingers long after the final note.
Slowscript’s Stay is a powerful shoegaze offering that seamlessly blends dreamy atmospherics with overwhelming sonic weight. Massive waves of distorted guitars collide with shimmering ambient textures, creating an immersive listening experience that feels both intimate and expansive. The track captures a deep sense of nostalgia while maintaining enough intensity to keep its emotional impact sharp and immediate. Its balance of melody and noise is particularly effective, allowing the song’s hazy beauty to emerge through layers of feedback and reverb. Stay stands as a strong example of modern shoegaze, delivering both emotional depth and impressive sonic craftsmanship.
Whilst best known for his colossal presence within the extreme metal community, Shane Embury has proved himself a man-for-all-seasons with his drone, dark ambient project, Dark Sky Burial, to add to him many, many side-hustles beyond Napalm Death. Written during the enforced downtime of the Covid-era, Bridge to Resolution takes the spirit of Dark Sky Burial and turns its focus inward, shaped by the upheaval and disruption of the time and how he as a creator reacted to it.
Taking the frank and open approach of his autobiography Life…? And Napalm Death, in which he lays bare his inner conflicts concerning mental health, personal identity and struggles with addiction, this debut solo record is an artist trying to sort things out in the best way he knows how.
Bridge to Resolution is a journey of self-discovery and draws its inspiration from the Jungian concept of Shadow Integration, the process of bringing hidden parts of the self into consciousness and to do this, Shane has removed himself from his day-job as a Grind Monster and looked instead to the music that shaped and inspires him beyond the Metal world.
Bands like The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Swans and Killing Joke, and scenes like the New Wave and Post-Punk colour all the record’s eight tracks, with Shane providing vocals, synths, guitar and bass, and ex-Cancer man, Carl Stokes, providing the percussion.
Opener, Spasm Prayer, hits with some heavy and choppy early electronics, built around a driving rhythms and powerful energy, it is softened by intersecting piano lines and an easy ambience, with a distinctive Eighties pop sound fizzing in the background. The Dreaming Abyss continues the electro pop feel, upbeat and even festive with the jingling bells at the start; but it doesn’t take long before gothic overtones can be heard in the raw vocals, and dark, gritty post-punk takes over.
Later, those poppy vibes return on Illusion Guillotine, this time with a harsh underscoring, even though the track feels like an exercise in musical restraint. Haunting female vocals and delicate keys soften the low set thick bass and Shane’s Gary Numan delivery. There’s a baroque feel to How to Corrode Memories, fairground melodies and layered vocals reflect the New Wave/ Post Punk influences throughout.
Both Thorns of Despair and Taurus lean heavily into harsh electronics , with Thorns… embracing the industrial sound of Shane’s hometown and its manufacturing history; dissonant noise re-enact the crashing, smashing machines as they build the Industrial Age, but there’s also an ominous warning hiding in plain sight, evoking the neon cityscapes of Blade Runner and the out of control creations of humanities’ hubris. Taurus, on the other hand, has a trippy dance vibe, reminiscent of With Sympathy-era Ministry.
Bridge to Resolution is not all doom, gloom and darkness, as its title track lands early in the piece as a wistful slice of Americana; easy guitar and heart-felt lyrics show a different side to the album, through notes loaded and rich with emotion, yet as dry as a desert wind.
It’s all leading to the closing tune, the eight-minute summarisation – maybe even the resolution of the title – that is The Gift of Shame Wrapped in Guilt. Hypnotic and mesmeric, the opening phrases establish themselves in a repeating pattern, the introspective lyric continually questions the narrator, seeking answers. It feels part confessional as the piano lines overlap, forming a progressive platform for the inevitable turn to a heavier mood. Shane would be the first to admit he has limited vocal range, but these work in the song’s favour as a more competent singer might have over-sung it, whereas Shane’s voice comes over as one seeking – and possibly finding – absolution of some sort. Classical strings bring the album to a conclusion.
A world away from what you’d expect from a Shane Embury solo record? Not really, but one that gives up its secrets slowly and makes the listener work to pull out the full nuance of the piece. It’s one of those albums that will burrow itself into your mind and have you reaching for it again long after you’ve moved on to other things.
Nitocris was a favourite of LOUD back in the 90s. They appeared on the cover of the print zine twice and featured in the pages several times.
They pulled the plug amicably in 2001 with most of the members going to a wealth of other bands including Fyreflies, Morgana and the Monstars, Cousin Betty, Sand Viper, Raprager, Raising Ravens and the Sugar Beats, to name but a few.
25 years after they split and 17 since a one-off show at the Annandale, the five piece will make a return to the stage on October 3 at the Marrickville Bowlo in Sydney. Hit this link for tickets, an exclusive tee and a limited edition double vinyl featuring their self titled album and tracks from all their other releases.
Mock Media‘s Mock City Rock is a swaggering, full-throttle blast of rock ‘n’ roll that wears its influences proudly while carving out a personality of its own. Fueled by punchy riffs, infectious hooks, and a reckless sense of fun, the track channels the raw spirit of classic garage rock and proto-punk into something vibrant and refreshingly alive. The band’s chemistry is undeniable, transforming every chorus into a communal shout-along. Equal parts grit, attitude, and melody, Mock City Rock feels like the kind of anthem built for packed venues, late nights, and speakers turned all the way up.
Brisbane’s premier heavy music and dark arts event, the Dead of Winter Festival, is officially rising from the ashes. Dubbed The Resurrection, the festival is locked in for Saturday, 27 June 2026, marking its first return since 2019. Originally launched in 2009, the iconic gathering was forced into a multi-year hiatus following the pandemic. For […]
Brisbane’s premier heavy music and dark arts event, the Dead of Winter Festival, is officially rising from the ashes. Dubbed The Resurrection, the festival is locked in for Saturday, 27 June 2026, marking its first return since 2019. Originally launched in 2009, the iconic gathering was forced into a multi-year hiatus following the pandemic. For […]