With Download Festival on the horizon, I felt it was high time I revisited my Igneous Rock round-up review series, showcasing bands and artists who have a hard rock sound within their music. Of course, it’s quite a broad genre, so every act here will be slightly different, but that just means there’s more for you to discover!
Review by Jane Howkins
Photo by Medivh
Medivh – Down in Flames
First up are cool band Medivh, with their amazing new tune Down in Flames. As well as the clear elements of hard rock, the Italian group also include some electronic motifs in their music, combining the different styles in a cool way. It’s a track that’s as melodic as it is heavy, featuring some lovely down-tempo verses with an emotional feel, leading nicely into the pretty choruses. It’s great to hear a band of this genre doing something different to their peers, so you really ought to check out Medivh if you like your rock and roll a little unusual!
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Love Ghost – Do You Like Me Now?
I’ve only just discovered Love Ghost for the first time, and yet we already have a brand new song from them! Do You Like Me Now? might be my favourite of the bunch, showing some serious rock and roll chops. The music is tight, as the guitars and bass throb along in nice timing with the drums, occasionally dropping away to allow the emotional vocals to really shine through and take centre stage. It’s a track with a fantastic energy, making you want to headbang along in time from the moment the first riff kicks in. These guys are clearly headed for big things!
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Mothman and the Thunderbirds – Ruby Skies
Mothman and the Thunderbirds is another recently discovered band by us – their new single Ruby Skies shows off just why we love them so much! It’s an intense song, with so much going on in the background that it’ll take a few listens to really hear everything. The instruments collide to create a wall of sound in the background, with what sounds like some electronic elements also present in the mix, making for a really cool sound. The vocals have an old school classic rock sound at times, making for an incredibly anthemic chorus that will have you singing along in no time.
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HeIsTheArtist – Sympathy Sonata (Rock Rhapsody)
HeIsTheArtist is a Christian r&b singer-songwriter, but even if you’re not religious, there’s still plenty to love about Sympathy Sonata (Rock Rhapsody). On this track, the musician turns his hand to the world of rock and roll, creating something with massive riffs, as well as a nice melodic touch. The main chord sequence is addictive, played out in fast style against the rhythm section, drawing you in straight away. The vocal effects take a little adjusting to at first, but they’re actually really stylistic, adding a cool touch that really makes the song stand out – particularly when the heavier riffs drop out and the r&b moments come to the forefront of the tune.
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We Are One – The Power of 3
The Power of 3 is a song that actually seems to lean on the metal and industrial scenes a lot, opening with some ferocious guitar licks, as well as some cool keyboard effects. It’s great to hear We Are One mixing up the genres in this way – the singing is mostly rapped here, although there are some screamy backing vocals that can occasionally be heard in the background too. The riffs have a proper throb to them, sounding pretty catchy at times, despite the heaviness of the tune. This has got to be one of my favourite songs on this list, so make sure you check it out below!
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Birdman Cult – Highs and Lows
Birdman Cult are a little different to some of the other acts on this list – whilst they certainly do belong here, Highs and Lows also has something on an indie rock sound. Just check out those cool guitar licks, the vocal style and the catchiness of the chorus, making this song apt for a set at both Leeds Festival and Download Festival, showing these guys really will go far! The track just oozes cool and it sounds really, really well written, making for one song you shouldn’t miss out on! The breakdown in the middle is particularly awesome, dropping down before the tension is built back up again in style!
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The Maze – Back to Life
Back to Life is a song about moving forward in life, providing a promising message for our listeners. It’s a slightly softer song than some of the other tracks here, having an almost symphonic rock/metal sound, but that’s no bad thing – especially when it’s this well written! The track starts out with a lovely piano melody and some lush vocals, before the heavy riffs kick in, showing The Maze is another artist capable of many styles! The piano and guitars are both delightful here, drawing you into the imaginative world created by The Maze – this is another favourite from me!
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Igneous Rock – playlist by York Calling | Spotify
