This edition of f LITM Rock Picks indulges in the darker side of rock with heavy tones and varied textures. Featuring artists- Headmaster, Here If You Need, Sweet Mess, Boxing Club, and Los Quiénes Son.
1. Headmaster – The Reckoning
‘The Reckoning’ takes the listener through sweeping soundscapes, mixing an alternative rock crunch with twinkling electronica to create a unique melding of moods. The composition is distinctive, applying a pop approach to alternative themes. With a peppy, upbeat underbed, the track creates an interesting fusion of major and minor scales—the kind of energy that could rev up a crowd and serve as a perfect setup for an anthemic release. The vocal timbre suits this approach beautifully, shifting from clean and warm to bold and powerful. Overall, it’s a solid, fiery track.
2. Here If You Need – When It Falls Back into Place
“When It Falls Back into Place” is one of those encouraging songs that feels like friends dropping everything to come over uninvited to cheer you up. It’s equal parts raw and emotional, using passionate vocals and unfiltered, grungy instrumentation to wrap the listener in a tight embrace, while remaining energetic through its use of cathartic lung power. The vocals and guitars match each other’s energies, at times even blending together, as the artists boldly edge away from typical song formats to follow the momentum of the arrangement. Listen here—
3. Sweet Mess – Midnight Knows My Name
Sweet Mess’s latest track hits a dark palette with warm, smoky tones, channeling the range and energy of bands like Nightwish. The undercurrent carries a powerful mix of charred, electric bass tones paired with deep, crystalline vocals and harmonies. The gravelly release from the guitar adds to the moody arrangement, creating a noir-inspired hard rock performance. As an eclectic "diss track" aimed at insomnia, it crafts a perfect hit-piece for anyone accustomed to wall-staring at 3 AM—especially with the lyrics: “How can thoughts be so loud? They never make a sound.” Ideally suited for a morning jog or hitting the gym, you can check out the song here—
4. Boxing Club – Father and State
Another electric and smoky track on the list is Boxing Club’s ‘Father and State.’ Its soundscape is submerged in earthy, dark tones with a menacing backdrop, as the song moves beyond a simple observational stance with lyrics like: “What’s the state done to your future, was it laid out on the map?” The track ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the listener to question the current state of events along with the artists. Overall, the song is a powerful harbor for dark, crunchy instrumental underbeds, over which the vocals form thunderous clouds to create a stormy soundscape of post-punk with a touch of dark rock.
5. Los Quiénes Son – Días Perdidos
The Spanish track ‘Días Perdidos’ combines a gripping, feverish energy with grungy yet viscous textures. The weighted feeling brought in by the bass and synths provides a solid grounding, allowing the velvety vocals to flow smoothly through the course of the track. At the same time, there is an accompanying crunchy texture in places, equalized and balanced well within the arrangement without ever sounding out of place or glitchy. The vocals tie the entire assortment of textures together with ease; because of this, the indie-rock track could easily find itself as the perfect companion for cozy car journeys or late-night walks.
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