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Pretty Odd – Ballad of the Rider [EP]
Inspired by 1969’s Easy Rider, Pretty Odd’s debut has the inevitable stench of grease and oil – you half expect there to be a cool-as-fuck cover of ‘Born to be Wild’ on here – there isn’t – but Ballad of the Rider will still leave you feeling invincible.
The Farmhounds – Dirty Work [Self-Release]
The pressure to make a Black Keys comparison is unbearable, so here it goes: Both bands consist of male duos brazenly rehashing American blues with minimal fuss. Ok, comparison over.
Whereas the Keys’ learn more towards the thicker-sounding end of the spectrum, the Farmhounds’ are closer in spirit to the likes of Muddy Waters; it’s a soulful record that has a Midwestern bar-band approach. The result is a collection of simple, riff-based numbers where the subject matter is as important as the guitar tone.
Sons of the Stone Empire [Demo]
Sons of the Stone Empire may have a moniker that sounds like a Hollywood blockbuster, but it’s their ability to coax maximum power out of ‘70s proto-metal riffage, while mimicking their Californian cousins, that will attract the plaudits.
Shoraiders – Shoraiders [EP]
The last few years have seen a renaissance in traditional-sounding rock ‘n’ roll, most of it coming out of Scandinavia. Shoraiders, like countless others before them, have modelled themselves on AC/DC, Blue Cheer, Queens of the Stone Age… You’ve heard this fuzzed-out approach before, but it’s the nicotine-fuelled pipes of Maria Morjes – a sassy, unrepentant presence – that makes this an essential purchase.
Baby Elephant and the Horse – Stomp [EP]
There are normally two reasons why music comes with a warning: Its contents will probably offend sensitive listeners, or it’s simply there to gain attention. Stomp, the debut EP from Baby Elephant and the Horse, conforms to the latter; these amp-squealing, low-end grooves have been heard countless times before, although the use of synthesiser does add depth to a one-dimensional formula.
Wild Rocket [Demo]
Wild Rocket’s motto is simple: “You have to be good to yourself,” however, what this has to do with the cosmos is a mystery. Together since 2011, this Dublin quartet’s early output is an even balance between heaviness and ethereality. If you like space-rock, you’ll like this.
Tweed Jacket – 525 Sessions [EP]
Named after the house where it was recorded, the 525 Sessions is a stripped-down garage-rock record in its purist form. According to the band’s online biography, Tweed Jacket is currently “up for sale,” and it’s their DIY aesthetic– complete with muffled mixing and off-the-wall improvisation – that is the band’s most endearing asset; check your local listings, they’ll probably be headlining a friend’s basement near you.
Geezer – Handmade Heavy Blues [Self-Release]
Handmade Heavy Blues sets its stall out early: austerely nostalgic, crunching guitar-and-drums-in-a-rundown-bar blues-rock. The resurgence of “the blues” in recent years has made it difficult for up-and-coming bands to be taken seriously, however, there’s an authenticity about Geezer that instantly puts them above their peers; the whiskey-soaked growl of Pat Harrington will take you down the Midwestern delta once more, while Harrington’s heartfelt, gut-level grooves are reminiscent of ZZ Top circa 1973.
Room Service – Kick It Old School [EP]
Strasbourg doesn’t usually leap to mind as a hotbed of garage rock, but Room Service are currently heading up a healthy scene of classic-sounding bands. Kick it Old School, the band’s second release, is the perfect encapsulation of their sound: A tawdry celebration of bold riffs and chest-beating bravado in its rowdiest form.
Horse Bodies – Terror Train [EP]
Despite their menacing moniker, Horse Bodies are anything but; they look like the post-teen band rehearsing next door. Terror Train, a celebration of youthful exuberance, has ‘50s rock and roll at its core; for every blues-punk explosion (‘The Flying Dutchman’) there’s a driving rhythm that owes its existence to Buddy Holly.
Invadür – Invadür [Self-Release]
Through no fault of their own, Invadür were born in the wrong era. According to the band’s biography, this Bedford, Massachusetts ensemble bonded over their love of “classic heavy metal” – a generic reason, but one that’s entirely justified.
Here we have the spirit of the NWOBHM scene in all its leather-clad, over-the-top glory: galloping toms, twined guitars, and a rough-and-ready growler in Joe Bastek. There may be no ‘Phantom of the Opera’ or ‘Running Free,’ but these raw, revved-up velocities will invoke nostalgic smugness in older listeners, and seething envy in younger fans.
Knights – With a Heart of Stone [Single]
Knights’ brand of psychedelic-pop and acid-rock interplay owes its existence to a small, but highly-influential timeframe: the ‘60s. However, like all good throwbacks, this Netherlands’ ensemble finds the ethereal atmosphere they were hoping for.
