The Indie Rock Dojo

 We Demand Parachutes is a band located in Boston, MA and New York City, NY in USA.  "Hungover You" is what is often considered Pop-Punk Rock as a genre very similar to the late 1990's and early 2000's time period.  The production is very well done, and even includes keyboard sounds and production tricks to the expected guitar/vocal driven rock. As this song gets started, the vocals quickly pickup into the verse and get things going.  The vocalist is on-point to the style, with a clear nasal-sounding presentation above crisp-sounding distorted guitars and a bass that sits a little more focused in the mids area of the mix.  The chorus comes in with layered harmonies on top of melodic vocals. I was a little surprised but really dig how the guitar has a hint of fuzz...or maybe a tin can effect...in its sound.  The clarity of the guitars goes down a little bit with this added gain to the distortion.  This really adds a lot of punch to the song's overall so...

ALERT!!!***November 25th, 2022 Release Date!*** This is the second song from Agency Panic (from Ireland) that I've reviewed, and honestly I cannot get enough of from this band.  "Anesia" is a much different different track from anything they've made previously, but it keeps the dark, progressive rock feel all at the same time.  I'm honored to be able to prepare a song review before its release date to aid in it's release! The song starts with what sounds like possibly carnival music slowing down to a complete stop.  Then in the emptiness comes lower-end synths pounding the rhythm with soundscapes over the top.  Voices enter fighting through the static of an old radio station that's just barely in reach bring up political conspiracy insinuations.  Sounds of pounding drums come in with smooth, dark vocals and detuned guitars.  The rhythm guitars are metal...reminding me of chain saws cutting through machinery, and the lead guitars are finding melody in the d...

 Jacobs Fall is a hard rock band from Germany, who has a phenomenal heart-heavy, sad, reflective and driving song in "Escape the Gravity" that is beautifully performed and produced. The song starts with a beautiful piano that is met with pickup notes leading into a full guitar-heavy rock song with continued piano.  I sense a very gothic feel.  I love the singer's amazing, smooth baritone voice, always nicely in tune, and bringing this incredible near-tears emotion to the forefront.  The drums are slow and spot on rhythmically.  The bass rolls smoothly through and below the crystal clear rhythmic guitars.  The piano continues to melodically float through the song, and is met by orchestral strings. Now that I've described their nicely produced studio sound, I have to bring to attention the outstanding songwriting.  Every instrument is not used throughout the whole song, but only when they are needed.  For instance, the verses allow the vocals to shi...

All Taken is a hard rock band out of Los Angeles, CA USA.  "The Den" is their latest release after a bit of a hiatus, and it comes with high intensity, a shuffling rhythm and soaring guitars. When I initially played "The Den" for the first time, I was immediately very impressed by their high quality studio sound.  The drums are booming and clear, the guitars are crunching and fill the whole stereo landscape, the bass is active, punchy and can be easily recognized even while the guitars blast, and the vocals give me a strong impression of Dexter Holland from The Offspring.  What an incredible rock sound. I LOVE how the song has such a strong intro.  It gives the song a strong identity.  After the drums and bass join the already soaring guitars, they all meld into a rhythm, then all of the soaring comes on with full intensity.  The guitar and bass are so busy and are tight through out all of the fast riffs. One thing that caught my ear as a very cool addition...

"No One Home" by Titanosaur releases on November 11th!  I am honored to be able to listen early and give you my reaction the best I can!  Titanosaur never fails to deliver a sound all his own with gigantic pounding drums, blasting distorted guitars, smooth bass lines and that signature grunge-tastic vocal that honestly makes me think of his band name just by hearing it.  Titanosaur is his own brand of metal. "No One Home" is a song where the complicated meters of the drums pounding away are really impressive.  The song actually starts with guitars rising in volume, then bass guitar rhythmically getting us moving.  When the drums kick in, I can feel the vibes of a stadium full of metal heads raising their horns, heads down, bobbing their long hair up and down or side to side...and fully in-the-zone.  The vocals come in and I start to picture the setting of a giant dinosaur with a guitar and microphone directing this crowd to action with fires all around the ...

 The Endorphins are a rock band out of Boston, Massachusetts USA.  They label their own music as psych/Punk rock, but I would personally label grunge as the main genre, although I can understand their point of view!  This is mainly because the guitars are heavier than stereotypical punk, and the angst of the instruments and vocals have a different feel than punk.  The vocalist also gives off Kurt Cobain vibes...especially when he hits the chorus on top of the blasting distorted guitars. "Myopic Dystopia" starts with atmospheric sounds on the keys, which are soon joined by two string chords on guitar...then joined by bass to accentuate the roots.  It really gives me vibes of extreme mystery...possibly looking for aliens among us in the night!  Such a cool way to get a song going!  After the vocals join, the drums come in.  All of the progression of the intro and verses keep leading up to what I'd consider my favorite part...the HOOK...when that ext...