The Indie Rock Dojo

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 "Scarecrow Blues" by Marcus Magnusson is a guitar rock song, blasting away with style and sound very similar to the 70's and 80s.  Very impressive guitar tone and performance throughout the whole thing.  Crunchy rhythm guitars, smooth and booming bass, and soaring guitar solos throughout, including the beautifully lead guitar work that carries the weight of rhythm guitar and soloing together. I was surprised by the prechorus' use of the symphonic-type synth sounds filling the landscape leading into the heavy melodic chorus.  It gave a much more gentle feel to the song, giving plenty of room for build.  I really like how it built into the guitar solo bridge section! The drums and bass work incredibly well throughout.  Very steady and a team that carries the highlighted excellent guitars.  They are well mixed.  They also keep the intensity of the song where it needs to be at all times, giving those guitars a beautiful platform to shine. The vocals ...

 "Lilly" by Intro Signal has as strong 90's alternative/grunge rock style.  It definitely feels the way their YouTube video suggests, like a garage band blasting away...probably with angry neighbors!  (Been there done that!  LOL) The riff at the very beginning of the song is intense, leading into the verse with power.  I was a little surprised that the vocals didn't match what the riff led me to believe was coming!  It did, however, come in melodically...bleeding into the alternative area of rock quickly.  I did enjoy the grungy rasp brought into the chorus!  The melody is very catchy and should expect audience members singing along! The rhythm guitars have a raw distortion sound and a nicely mixed lead guitar part over the top in many areas, using lots of bends and improv-soloing.  The bass is very active with improv and carries the low-end very nicely throughout with solid rhythm.  The drums sound nice and have a higher difficulty leve...

 Dragons & Astronauts are a rock band from Dayton, Ohio USA who bring a mellow, melodic alternative rock sound with their song "Down and Out in Dayton". One of the first things I always seem to notice about a song is the drums.  In this case, I notice that they are clear and mixed very nicely amongst all the instruments.  They are steady, have great snap and definitely provide good leadership on song direction, tempo and feel.  Well done! The clean guitar has a nice shiny tone, and the distortion sounds punchy and clear as well.  If I were to be picky, I'd recommend those distorted guitars get doubled so that the whole mix can feel that important wall of sound, but this definitely does give the feel of a live performance the way it is with one track for distortion.  This could very well be as intended, and still sounds great.  Later in the song, a melodic guitar solo comes in and fills the mix even more, which really adds a lot!  I very much g...

 Letters from Mars, from North Carolina USA, has a very innovative sound, which is a good genre-mix of modern rock that contains catchy and pop-sensible rhythm-focused instrumentation and melodic vocals. I was strongly pulled into the song with the catchy rhythmic guitar riff that starts the song alone, then it is joined by the full-band.  The first verse was a lot of fun!  It contained the lyrics "Tell me lies" over and over and the rolling bassline drove it with those steady drums.  During my first listen, the lyric repetition didn't phase me one bit.  It took my third listen to actually think..."Whoa wait a minute!"  Did he seriously just rattle the same line a bunch of times?"  Well, it totally fits!  Another verse says just the word "Lie" over and over following the rhythm and melody.  I also really love the user of the word "Dagnabbit" later on.  There is lots of creativity going on with this song in a good-natured why, and I'm...

 Mega Queen is a hard rock band from Port Pirie South Australia.  "Judas" has an innovative sound, largely due to the very distinct vocalist that has a gravely scream with great control with less and more forceful/emotional screams.  I love the rhythmic offbeat "No No" with those vocals, which works alongside the rest of the band and those distorted guitars.  It reminded me of something that David Draiman of Disturbed would do.  This includes some rhythmic scat! The lead guitar player has a nice sound that carries the rhythm guitar as well, with a very steady palm-mute chugging.  Very much a talent that can do whatever required in a rock song, including a solid guitar solo with string-bending, etc. The bass has a good low-end focused tone that rumbles the minor chord progressions, and the drums are solid.  I love the double-kicking and the tom-focused rhythms that take turns.  I also love the part during the guitar solo where drummer starts g...

 Four Story Fall and Jeremy Abrams, from Seattle, Washington USA has a pop punk rock song called "Weather // Whether" that is a very well-done tune with a really nice touch.  It veered the genre away from the abrasive feel of punk rock and gives a more sentimental feel with catchy melodies and sincere vocal tone. Right away, I could hear the professionalism of an experienced guitar player with the steady picking, which the rhythm section picks up on flawlessly .  The guitars have a nice low-gain tone and very often have lead melodies being played over the top of the rhythm guitars.  The bass guitar has a nice steady tone that fits the genre.  No fat low-end, but a blending tone that lays below the rhythm guitars.  The vocals sound very clean, authentic, and hit every note spot-on. This band has a very tight sound.  The part of their sound that catches my attention the most is the layers of vocal harmony that are almost as high in the mix as the melody....

 The Great Homesickness, out of Ann Arbor, Michigan USA, brings a very energetic rock with a great genre mixture that I LOVE.  All the Wrong Questions is a banger, to say the least. I hear these genres the most... Pop Punk -> The lead vocals are very melodic with a tone that is full-force and full-speed ahead, including a lot of group unison parts.  The drums are very aggressive and have incredible life inside those beats. Hard Rock ->  The guitars are hitting heavy power chords with a strong low-end with the bass guitar.  The drums are big and high-in the mix, assisting with that hard rock power. I'm so very glad to get the opportunity to discover this band.  The band as a whole is very tight, even through all of the complicated rhythms that require a considerable amount of precision.  The mix is solid with the heavy guitars getting that audible accent by a nicely toned bass.  The drummer is spectacular, keeping the ship moving with metrono...

 "Gluttony" by Mick Combs (from Port Pirie South Australia) is definitely an alternative rock instrumental with very interesting ideas.  The part that caught my attention right away was the string keys, very high in the mix, sliding from one note up several steps, then back down to the original note.  It's not often that you hear this, as the keys took the lead, and stay high in the mix throughout. I like the crisp and snappy sound the drums have, which is on full display as soon as this jammer starts.  The bass is also jamming along rhythmically and sounding great, although I do have to say I could have used it higher in the mix! What is highlighted in this song is definitely the guitar soloing, which takes the place often filled by a lead vocalist.  There's so much melody and it consistently follows the path the melody takes in this song...and also leaves lots of room for some solo-shredding, too!  I hear some squealing and top-notch control of that ...

 James Snelling is a very impressive rock guitarist from Ontario, California.  "Villainaire" displays this with no doubts.  It brings a classic rock feel with lead guitar chops that are steady, consistent and flashy...taking care of both the rhythm guitar and lead all alone.  The vocals have a distortion on them and follow the melody already set by the guitar, and the bass guitar is a solid foundation with the drums. The guitar soloing sections of this song are what caught my attention the most.  As the lead guitar continues to pound out the riffs, guitar solos go on top with soaring squeals, nicely controlled cry-baby wah pedal effects, and shredding on the fretboard that completely takes the song to a new level. I highly recommend this guitar-focused rock song to anyone who loves Guitar Hero-esque performances.

 Luke B is a rock band out of Chorley, England who brings a rhythmic solid rock to the ears.  "Viral Vision" starts out with distorted guitars getting the beat along with the drums, then the lead vocals join continuing the melody started out by the guitar.  The chorus is led by the vocals and synth strings coming into to fill up a lot of space, giving the song more of a soul-fulfilling vibe.  Later in the song, choruses really feel like a strong build, adding power to the song.  I really like the melody throughout and the minor feel. There is very interesting songwriting to this song that is out of the ordinary.  The chorus itself seems to be structured as the area where the building of the song occurs.  In my first listen, I naturally thought we had a prechorus preparing to lead into a chorus, but after repeated listens, this doesn't seem to be the case.  The chorus has two parts that do their own building (in my mind).  They lead into the n...

 Battle Bard is a band from Bournemouth, United Kingdom that brings a solid hard rock / metal style to the ears with solid musicianship and plenty of attitude! "The Empty King" starts off with ringing chords over the top of a solid beat, then come the fast-drum improvisations, including double-kick, that really get the song moving.  The vocals come in with a rhythmic emotional monotone, ending each vamp with fierce gravel.  There are also backing team vocals taking turns with the lead vocal.  The drums come through in the overall mix very well. Overall, the drums are the highlight in this song.  They are very busy and keep things very interesting throughout.  Their tightness with the rhythm section bring a level of professionalism to the team.  The drummer brings the excitement to the song with the incredible double-kicking that cannot get enough credit, especially mixing the double-kick during improvisation.   I recommend this to any rock en...

 Fime is a band out of Los Angeles, California USA who brings in solid rock and roll with a Foo Fighters feel to it. The first thing I noticed was the driving guitars that have a strong mid-range EQ power with lead guitars acting as the melody for the song, but not at the forefront.  The vocals are hollered with a fierce grungy feel so much like David Scott Lucas of Local H.  The bass starts the song rhythmically while playing along with the snare and definitely does a good job enforcing that rhythm along with those drums.  Very solid. I'd have to say the highlight of this song is the bridge where a new lead guitar melody erupts with a new chord progression.  This bridge is short-lived as it leads us directly to the end of the song.  I would have enjoyed that bridge to be expanded and built upon, if Fime would have chosen that route.  That's what I was ready for! I recommend this song to any rock enthusiasts who really enjoyed the grunge or post-grunge...

 Quarantine Angst is an instrumental rock band from Brooklyn, New York, USA! I have to admit, I generally prefer rock songs with vocals, but this song brought me happiness. First of all, the instruments all sound very clear and are mixed well.  It is very easy to hear the natural guitar guitar talent throughout.  Aside from the nicely toned rhythm guitar being perfectly tight with the solid drums and the awesome guitar distortion, the melody of this song is controlled by seemingly a never ending guitar solo.  I can feel the personality behind it, which comes to guitarists with YEARS of experience.  The vibrato added to held notes, the bending of strings, the smooth muted slides to new notes across the fret board, the choice of playing two or three-string chords to add a fierce harmony...it all sent me straight to my happy place. I also really enjoyed the songwriting.  The transitions flowed nicely and often gave the song a change-up with volume or with a di...

 Robots in Love is an alternative/electronic rock band from New Zealand that I enjoyed right out of the gate!  I had never heard their music before, but the amazing part of accepting submissions for a blog like this is that it brings incredible music to my attention, then I can shout it out! I love the incredibly tight rhythm with industrial-sounding electronic drums joined with the bass and guitars riffing.  This sound is heavy and powerful.  It makes me think of a scenario where humans are in a battle with the overpowering army of robots. The vocals are clean, full of harmony and melody.  They are led with solid female vocals and there is backing by male voices are well, covering a lot of ground!  Not only that, but the lyrics are well written and solid... "This is how we save us This is how we stay alive This is how we save us This is how we survive This is how we stay unbroken Activate Crush it away" This is a great anthem of inspiration. This is a fant...

 This Side of Anarchy is an incredible aggressive punk rock band out of Los Angeles, California, USA!  I enjoy his music and style so much that I received the honor of song collaborations with him (but it definitely wasn't on this banger).  That being said, let's break down this song. The Problem is You starts with some fast punk guitar riffing on top of some speed rock drums.  Dennis's raspy vocals directly hit the topic at hand with fierce precision.  There are so many people who forget to think inwardly about themselves before blaming everyone else.  He crushes the issue with this line... "Don't follow your instinct cause The problem is you Just stop feeling and think The problem is you" The rhythm section is very much connected all the way through the instruments, tight as can possibly be.  I love the guitar's sound as it is smooth, a nice amount of gain and a solid punch.  The bass is also smooth, but contains that higher-end clarity that mak...

 Silhouette Cities is a band out of Washington DC, USA.  Their song "What It's Like to Lose" is a pop-punk song sticking pretty close to what you'd expect from the genre, but does have some sleight veering from the norm to the alternative rock area.  First of all, the rhythm guitars carry a tone with light gain, giving clearer chords and a less aggressive feel.  The lead singer sings within the style, but also has a thicker voice with well-used vibrato when appropriate.  Also, the lead guitarist gives tasteful melodic solo with solid and confident chops!  Same with the drummer, great chops and perfect feel for when to improvise and what the song needs. All of that being said, the song overall is well written.  I really enjoyed the feel of this song, which veers into the alternative rock area.  There is a solid foundation with the freedoms that rock provides...in a garageband-type experience.  I get this feeling the band is enjoying playing th...

 Lion Trail, out of Israel, is a heavy rock/post-grunge/hard rock band that with amazing chops on every instrument and they aren't afraid of showing off the shredding skills!  Does shredding mean incredible skills on other instruments than just guitar?  In this case, I say YES!  Not only that, but they all are rhythmically tight with one another and depend on each other completely.  I can't get enough of this band because this is what they always do. OK, so I said directly that the guitars are incredible.  Now, I need to mention that the bass sounds great and powers through.  It leads with the chord progressions, but also improvises its own path very tastefully.  The drums are steady and change rhythms effortlessly.  The drummer pushes an incredible amount of energy into the song and is in full force as captain of the ship.  As a related note...I LOVE the metal speed drums when they come in!  The vocals keep a great melody, but most...

 Lenny and the D, out of Texas USA, are a melodic rock band with a strong 80's rock presence.  "Vice Grip" has a very catchy melody.  There is some very good musicianship in this song, as well.  The rhythm guitars are solid, and the bass is very active and adding lots of flavor to the rhythm section.  The vocals have a a clean delivery with a lot of melody doubling.  I also enjoyed the keyboard additions that carry decoration around the top-end of the frequency spectrum, adding nice color as a lead  above the guitars. I really enjoyed the dualing guitar solo in the bridge.  They played together very creatively and were rhythmically perfect.  I loved hearing each guitar in opposing headphone sides! One great hook in this song is the vocals in the chorus.  I hear a shout "You" (DEVO-inspired???), then I hear the melodic vocal response "...got a vice grip on my heart." I recommend this song to anyone who loves a good-feeling 80's inspired r...

 Anarchy & Son is a father/son project out of Los Angeles and Michigan in the United States.  Dejected is a solid rockin' mix between metal and punk, with definite heavy riffage often with fast soloing on top.  Often times, the song kicks into double-time speed.  The guitars bring the metal aspect to the song with rhythmic and fast-moving chord progressions, with the vocals adding the melody and angst found in punk. I LOVE  the diversity between different areas of this song.  The beginning of the song starts with a drum intro, and the bass comes in alone with the drums to get us going.  The guitars then blast in full-fledged!  In the middle of the song, an instrumental kicks in that brings the song to a new level!  It starts similarly to the beginning of the song with drums and bass building it up, then the lead guitar starts to melodically lead us to a driving piece of the song that makes me feel like I'm in the middle of a battle with a...