This edition of LITM Rock Picks, features a diverse range of genres from grunge to cheerful early Christmas spirit rock n’ roll to pop rock with artists - The Vigilante, The Cyber Project, Purple Grace, Wholes and Mick J Clark!
1.The Vigilante - Tell Me
This 80s-inspired modern synth-rock artist brings us broody nihilism with their latest track, ‘Tell Me’. The genres blend pr ogressive with modern, using touches of grungy synths, and arpeggiated notes sprinkled every now and then. The vocals are gritty and use a mix of rawness and haziness while also switching octaves between the verses and chorus, giving the latter an energetic push. The lyrics are themed around nihilism, and the overall instrumentation with its melancholic synths, gentle beats and slow burn vibe bring out that essence. The track perfectly ends with more sprinkles of synth notes.
2. The Cyber Project - Dejavu
This upbeat, grungy track by the Cyber Project is a gritty and feverish take on the hard rock genre. We get elements of raw vocal technique, raucous guitars and a distorted bassline, leading to the track’s high-energy pulse. The lyrics are themed around the title ‘Dejavu’ and use it as a hook and a repeated motif, adding to an element of fun, while the rawness of the vocals with techniques like vocal growls and frys enhances the gritty nature of the song. The instrumentation of the track is dynamic, the guitars alternating between phasers and flangers while the bass amps up the pace along with the drums. The track is a fun ride that’ll get you pumped up at a rock concert. The synths at the tail end of the track are a nice touch!
3. Purple Grace- Always By My Side
This 5-piece English band brings us a high-energy, classic rock and pop fusion with their latest track, ‘Always’. The son,g themed around love, is energetic, captivating and infectious with its composition, and the arrangement is varied with its use of instruments. The overdriven guitars and drums together bring in the energy, while the lead vocals have a contrasting, light texture, making for a dynamic experience. The track has the instruments riff between segments, almost as if they’re sharing roles, where the bass and the guitar play each other’s segments. The multitracked element and the distorted layers added to the chorus is an added bonus.
4. Wholes- Holes
The band Wholes brings us flailing synths, ominous guitars and gritty hooks with their new single ‘Holes’. The vibe is completely grunge, and the instrumentation and vocals use a variety of distortions layered on top of one another, which creates an unsettling feeling. The guitars’ hook is a ping pong-ing of 2 notes, which is melded together with a subdued vocal track, at times slightly electronic. The guitar’s use of phasers and distortion complements the lyrics, which are themed around morbidity and self-destruction. According to the band, “Wholes is what it sounds like when sleep is no longer sufficient.” This perfectly sums up the experience of the song. It’s a soundtrack that’ll complement the Russian Sleep Experiment if it were made into a film.
5. Mick Clark- It’s Christmas party time
With the holiday season less than a month away, we get some early Christmas cheer with the song ‘It’s Christmas Party Time’ by Mick J.Clark. We get funky synths, instrumental bells, and breezy vocals, creating a picturesque setting, almost as if a family is in the middle of setting up their tree on a cosy morning. The interlude solo has the guitar section thinned out, giving a theremin-like effect. The guitars and bells also have nice synchrony going on. Throughout the song, there is also an inclusion of clinking glasses, cheering and celebration as part of the track- a very wholesome and engaging bonus, encapsulating that true Christmas spirit!
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