HARD ROCK

"Snake 25 starts with a moody, somewhat somber intro, and shifts into hard rock for the body of the song. The lyrics are a mix of personal confession and Gnostic imagery."

This powerful track, born out of the challenges faced during the global pandemic, delves into the theme of community and connection in a world filled with demands. With influences ranging from Bon Jovi to Bruce Springsteen, this song delivers a message of love through its uplifting tempo, catchy hooks, and impactful blend of powerful guitars and hard-hitting drumbeats.

"The sound of Splikak! is a harmonious blend of acoustic serenity and the raw power of rock, creating a dynamic musical landscape that oscillates between ethereal psychedelia and raw emotional intensity."

"King Cobra is Sonic Panda's new single, a humorous take on toxic relationships mixing electronic music and industrial rock. Their music is a blend of electronic pop-rock with eclectic influences that go from European industrial to Chinese pop. Sonic Panda aims to transcend cultural boundaries with their infectious melodies and not-so-subtle dark humor; after all they are not just any f###ing panda, they are Sonic Panda!"

"This is our newest single from our upcoming 2nd LP we call "A Piece of Broken Glass" which we are releasing later this year. This song means a lot to us and we flushed a lot of our feelings and state of mind into it and we hope you enjoy it."

Can you imagine what a band composed of an 80's rocker, a punk rocker, a neoclassical death metal rocker, an angel and a demon would sound like? Probably not, but then you also haven't heard Transcending Into the Unknown's debut album 'The Journey'. The album contains six tracks that clearly show the band's creativity and unique diversity, as well as the genre-busting musical curiosity that constantly drives their journey further into new and completely unknown musical landscapes.

With a history deeply rooted in the 90s black Metal-Era, Ungoliath's music is a testament to the enduring influence of the genre. Despite being a one-man project, Ungoliath's sound transcends boundaries, creating a sonic landscape that is both introspective and powerful.

"Tauranga, New Zealand’s Threat.Meet.Protocol. aren't your usual noise-punk trio (if there is such a thing). Abandoning guitars, their setup of drums, keyboards, and bass allows bassist and vocalist Austin Cunningham to deliver driving, Mike Watt-style bass lines, while keyboardist Luke Turner unleashes a barrage of wild synth noises. Drummer Evan Pope completes the lineup, providing intricate beats that keep the energy high without overwhelming the band's sound."

The Region - Never Looking Back (2025)

"Never Looking Back" is a powerful narrative of betrayal and the irreversible impact it has on personal relationships."

SickRichard - Drain (2025)

"Glued to our screens, absorbed by technology, drained by the modern world. Are we living in a dystopian nightmare? Led by mechanical synth, this infectious banger from SickRichard bubbles under with mundane, grooving bass until an anthemic chorus rips through letting it all out. Trapped and under control, we need to escape but don’t know how."

INTERVIEW WITH ROSETTA WEST

(•)> Cru cru Rosetta West! What first got you into music?

I have always been musical from as far back as I remember, but hearing Jimi Hendrix made me want to play guitar!

(•)> Have you ever seen Jimi Hendrix playing live? What's Jimi Hendrix's Magnum opus and what's your favorite song from this legendary music icon?

My favorite is a live recording of "Are You Experienced" found on an old album called "The Jimi Hendrix Concerts". It was later put out on the live Winterland collection, with a slightly different mix.

(•)> I remember checking out "Are You Experienced" a few years ago - it's a cool record! Why is that version the one you value the most?

It's just so epic-sounding, like an interplanetary epic! They took really some cool echoes off his vocals on the Winterland release, but it's still awesome!

(•)> What about Electric Ladyland?

Yeah. I love so many tracks on there, but 1983 seems like a great achievement. Hendrix played bass on that as well. "House Burning Down"..."Still Rainin' Still Dreamin'", oh man, so many great songs on that one.

(•)> What inspired you the most when creating "Night's Cross"?

I'm 56 years old and I feel a lot of pressure to get my music out more than ever, especially on streaming platforms that I was late to take advantage of. We're going at a pretty frantic pace but I can't let up now. I love my music and I want as many people as possible to hear it before I'm done. Drive and desperation, ha ha.

(•)> Drive and desperation are pretty damn powerful tools! Can you take us through the album art? What's the meaning behind the six flaming red crosses?

They have multiple meanings, going back far in time. But most recently there was an incident which gives even more resonance to the cover for me. I live near a wooded marsh which is very beautiful but has some darkness to it. I personally found a dead body in there two years ago, and recently I just missed finding a man who had set himself on fire in the reeds and died. You can still see the charred spot - kind of like "X" marks the spot. Not sure I want to include that in the album story. It's pretty harsh.

(•)> Damn, that's pretty dark. I can't even imagine what it is like going through something like that... What film inspires you the most when creating music?

I don't think about movies when I'm making music. I think Led Zeppelin's "The Song Remains The Same" movie seeped very deep into my DNA, so it's probably always there subconsciously. I am a fan of good movies though and I've been influenced by the imagery in films like Apocalypse Now and Angel Heart.

(•)> Fair enough, I'm also a big fan of Apocalypse Now. The scene that plays "This Is The End" by the Doors is pure cinema!!!

The Colonel Kilgore scenes (Robert Duvall) in Apocalypse Now are priceless.

(•)> I added "Angel Heart" and Led Zeppelin's "The Song Remains The Same" to my watchlist! What is your favorite album released by them?

I love the studio albums but I'm a bootleg fanatic. June 21, 1977, and April 28, 1977, are two of my favorite shows. But I'll go to "Physical Grafitti" for the studio work.

(•)> Do you agree with the Pigeon?

My main experience with pigeons is from living in Chicago. I admire them. They've learned to live and thrive in an urban environment with humans and they seem gentle and loving and unafraid. So yes, I'm down with pigeons.

INTERVIEW WITH MR. AUTUMN

(•)> Cru cru, what first got you into music?

Most people don't know this but it was actually quite petty hahaha. A teacher was praising a kid in school that he had potential to be a drummer and I was doing the exact same thing as he did. So out of spite, I started taking drum lessons and then I rolled into the world of music.

(•)> You're not the first nor the last entering the music world for petty reasons, but your story is still hilarious!!! Who's your favorite drummer?

Ooof, a favorite drummer is so hard. I like song drummers like Ringo Starr obviously. I still think his fills are innovative and I use them often. I love prog drummers like Mike Portnoy, Gavin Harrison, and Danny Carey. One local drummer/singer I adore is Stephanie Mannaerts. She hits like a girl, like really fucking hard! Power woman!

(•)> What are your thoughts on "Whiplash"?

I think movies like Whiplash and Sound of Metal are good to get people to love those genres of music but it paints a bit of a overdramatic picture. It seems more like an Olympic sport than music. J.K. Simmons is brilliant though. Love his performances in every movie or series he does!

(•)> The Sound Of Metal isn't like Whiplash at all, It's about a drummer dealing with ear-loss. Are you a fan of earplugs when attending a live show?

I haven't seen the sound of metal but I have a bit of tinnitus myself, it sucks. I tend to wear earplugs as much as I can. As a producer, I listen to so much music that I tend to avoid listening to music outside e.g. when I'm walking, on the train. I need to be able to absorb my surroundings a bit and balance sounds. There are 95 Db norms everywhere so I think things aren't as loud as they used to be. For singer-songwriter evenings I tend to go without because they are more quiet and intimate.

(•)> I also have a lot of respect for Ring Starr's percussion! Did you see Peter Jackson's "Get Back"? Is "Octopus's Garden" one of your favorite songs by The Beatles?

Get Back is a great film! It really feels like you're there. Octopus's Garden is pretty cool, but I prefer Revolver songs like 'She Said She Said'

(•)> I love the drumming of Meg White (White Stripes - White Blood Cells), Jeremiah Green ( 90's Modest Mouse) and Pattrick Wilson (Weezer - Pinkerton) Do you have any thoughts on these?

I haven't really checked Modest Mouse nor Weezer. Meg White does the bare basics and makes it work. You can't not respect that! Another song drummer.

(•)> What about John Paul Jones and Brian May?

JPJ is a legend, really like how he's a multi-instrumentalist. Organs, mellotrons, mandolins, you name it. He's that little piece of magic that makes Led Zeppelin rise above. It's like Richard Wright in Pink Floyd. Often overlooked, but they made the psychedelics, and orchestral parts really come to life. Brian May is a legend, enough said. He has an instantly recognizable guitar tone, made his own guitar, and overall he's just a class act. A real gentleman and scholar.

(•)> What metal/ prog records from bands such as Porcupine Tree, King Crimson, and Dream Teathre would you recommend to me the most?

When it comes to prog you can't go without Opeth, the sheer body of quality albums by them is staggering! I reference a lot of melodies and chords in my music and they're one of the reasons why I got into heavy prog metal. Of course, I like modern acts like Plini and Animals as leaders. But as far as songs with vocals and growls go, Opeth is the supreme leader!

(•)> Opeth's Blackwater Park is an amazing album!!! Do you agree with the Pigeon?

Blackwater Park for sure is a Masterpiece, they only have bangers! Ghost Reveries and Heritage are my personal favourites. I do agree with the Pigeon!

"Jack Vesk unleashes unbridled creativity, fusing Techno and Psytrance into electrifying soundscapes bursting with raw energy and awe-inspiring vibes. Recorded in his old home in Berlin, "System Takeover" encapsulates Jack's artistic evolution and dedication to pushing boundaries in music production. The absence of structural repetitions in the track keeps the listener engaged, as each section unfolds in an unpredictable and captivating manner."

"Delivering brash “big pick energy,” band YACOVELLI’s debut single “Red Eye” soars with a chunky Neo-Grunge swagger reminiscent of DIY punk predecessors Nirvana and The New York Dolls. An anti-anthem for social media-driven travel culture, the song taunts at and celebrates the jet-setting lifestyle and the illusion that the singer’s airbrushed life at 40,000 feet is picture perfect."

"Barking Poets released 2 brand new singles "Part of the Problem" and "We will Overcome". Barking Poets debut full length album is set for release in 2025."

INTERVIEW WITH DONNY DRACO

1. Hey Donny, super nice to have the chance to chat with you! First and foremost what got you into music?

Hey what’s up, glad to get a chance to talk with you and answer some questions! I got into music around middle school. I played the drums at a young Age, was in band at school for awhile and actually did choir for a short time in high school. I started writing music at the end of high school and I had a friend (Garret Adams) that also started producing beats then. Our other friend (Jed Tonkin) made music with us, and built a fully functional studio in his backyard after we graduated. Garret still produces most of my instrumentals and I still record at Jed’s studio to this day.

2. What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?

Currently I am still trying to make this music thing a “career”. It’s hard being a new independent artist but I’m working on making it happen. If I wasn’t making music at all, who knows what I would be focusing on in my life

3. What are your long term goals?

With music, my goals are really to make it become my full source of income. I would love to be able to become well known, see the world, and share my music with as many people as possible. Ideally, after all of that I would keep creating in other forms of media, and take money that I earned and invest it in ways that would allow me to have an income for the rest of my life. I also wouldn’t be opposed to making films, acting, and getting into the NFT creating game.

4. How do you spend your time?

Most days I try to create something musically. Whether it is working on instrumentals/beats, recording, or filming something. If I’m not making music, I’m usually hanging out with my girlfriend, making art, traveling or doing something outside. If it’s winter I’m snowboarding, and I’m trying to get back into skateboarding this summer.

5. What makes you the happiest?

Well obviously creating (music/art) makes me very happy. Spending time with people I care about makes me happy. I also value the time I spend with just myself a lot.

6. What is the biggest decision you’ve had to make?

It’s hard to think of something on the spot really. I’d say that moving back to my hometown during the pandemic was a big decision. I wasn’t making much music at this time, but coming home allowed me to access the things I needed to make music frequently again.

7. What’s your favorite Youtube channel?

Well outside of music channels, I am actually a big fan of Good Mythical Morning. I have been watching Rhett and Link content since I was a kid and still find entertainment in the daily show they do. Also a big fan of the Bombhole Snowboard podcast.

8. Describe a real-life situation that inspired you?

I had a cousin who was one of my best friends my whole life. He was a very talented musician and songwriter, always in bands and playing/recording. Sadly, he unexpectedly passed away last summer. The last time I visited him before he passed, he told me I should start making more music again, but to just be myself and be more genuine. So I did.

9. What’s your fav movie? Can I guess Donny Darko?

Donny Darko is up there on my list, and did inspire my name! But I would have to say my favorite movie of all-time is the first Matrix movie.

10. Do you consider yourself a music - nerd?

 I don’t really consider myself a music nerd. There are some people out there that know so much about playing multiple instruments, music theory, different bands or artists, etc. I just know the music I like and like to make, and try to learn everything I can.