From experimental art rock to ambient-alternative arrangements, this edition’s LITM Rock Picks brings you fresh variety, featuring artists - Oceanless, Cruel Ploy, VOVICIO, RISE and DIE DIE BE.
1. Oceanless - ONLY FOR TONIGHT
Birmingham-based rock duo Oceanless have just released their latest track ‘ONLY FOR TONIGHT’, an edgy, alternative track that delivers a punchy, high-energy headrush, making you feel like you’re marching and flying at the same time. With adrenaline-fueled instrumentation, everything from the vocals to the chunky, crackling overdrives fills the soundscape with electrifying energy, making it a thrilling concert or home-listening experience. The vocalist builds up kinetic energy in the atmosphere that works brilliantly against the gravelly, rough textures from the instruments, leading up to a fiery finale while the guitars rip into the track with fierce riffs and a bedazzling solo. Catch it here-
2. Cruel Ploy - Fear
Cruel Ploy’s ‘Fear’ is a great example of subverting expectations, with its use of setup and release. Starting with a subdued, contemplative tone, it makes a sharp U-turn into much darker territory, with face-melting riffs and cathartic energy. It introduces textures that stand in stark contrast to its gentle start, as the singer expertly balances the soft and sombre approach, switching to heavy grunge with ease, while the mix adds another layer of storytelling through varying levels of grit and grain applied to both the arrangement. The song reaches a powerful breaking point where metal screams punctuate the lyric "I can't breathe," making the segment hit all the harder.
3. VOVICIO - Out Of Cage
VOVICIO’s latest track combines grungy alt-rock ensembles with ambient instrumentation, paving the way for a layered and textured sonic experience. The song has a strong evening palette, rife with deep sunset hues, making it an overall reflective track that you’d enjoy whether at home, stuck in traffic, or at a live concert. A smooth combination of rustic guitars and raw vocals guides the listener through the singer's emotions, highlighted by lines like “I don’t break the world, I step outside its cage” underneath an ambient canopy of simmering synths. A deep, anchoring bassline cranks up the textures, deepening the impact of crunchy guitar strums and soothing vocal "ooohs". Listen here-
4. RISE - Hard To Leave You
RISE’s latest ‘Hard to Leave You’ is a high-energy and cinematic project, with a stadium-rock-style anthem that builds up intensity and tension through its lyrics, vocals, and instrumentation before surging into an explosive chorus. The drums set a relentless pace, zipping in double time at hyper-speed, while the rest of the instruments chase an adrenaline high with plenty of riffy guitar action. The vocalists sail through the tumultuous tides with ease, providing the emotional throw and drive, quite reminiscent of 2010s-era arrangements from bands like Skillet and Paramore. Listen here-
5. DIE DIE BE - Erased Faces
DIE DIE BE’s latest track ‘Erased Faces’ pushes musical boundaries to the next level. The Swiss art-rock project swirls chaos in a pot, blending hungry, soul-searching ideation with experimental song-making, building up a wacky piece full of crafty arrangements and improv. The arrangement uses an unsettling, persistent rhythm that remains unchanging throughout the song, while the innocent energy of the vocals contrasts with the fast-paced quirks of the track’s instrumentation. The song keeps it fresh by taking unpredictable turns across striking, rocky, and edgy terrain. The instrumentation, fully in the zone, feels unrestricted and raw, capturing the unbridled chaos pushing the boundaries of production and technique. Catch it here-
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