#I like melancholic and dark music but I don't like this style of vocals that often goes with it

[villain-in-love]

Trying to find good goth rock for my playlist is such a challenge. Because instrumentals are almost always wonderful - that's what I like this genre for. So I hear the beginning of the song, I'm all hyped up, but then there comes the singing part and ruins everything.

[mrmethadone]

Ofdrykkja interview 2014 (c9h13ns other band and now goes by pessimisten for thoughs who dont know)

1. When and how were you formed? 

Drabbad: In autumn 2011. I was contacted by Obehag from Apati's page on MySpace, he wanted some help with getting Subutex and pills. Back then, I was - and I still am - living at an institution for the mentally ill, after an incident with Bödeln, and I had lost most contacts. So I couldn't help him, and when I replied his mail, C9H13N (Pessimisten) replied and told me Obehag had recently died. Somehow we started speaking about his band Apati and my old band Lepra, and after some months speaking, we decided to start a band. I contacted my old friend and brother The Associate and told him to join. He's a great musician and we have played together in the past, and known each other since childhood. Pessimisten contacted his old friend Arkomann who also joined, and after a while I also recruited my friend Bödeln who stole a drum-set right away. Me and Pessimisten chose the name Ofdrykkja, and so the band was formed. 

2. What band inspired you to make the kind of music that you do today? 

Drabbad: For me, personally, it's the old Norwegian black metal scene, with bands like Burzum, Ulver, Dödheimsgard, Mysticum and Mayhem. Even if we don't play black metal, this is my source of inspiration. Associate: Me and Drabbad have had our different black metal projects together for the last 15 years. Source of inspiration has always been the depressive black metal you could find during the mid 90's, when we started making music together (for example Burzum and Ved buens). I have broadened my inspiration register along the years, and I'm no longer as bound to a band or genre as before. Instead I'm attracted to and inspired by any dark or sad tones, no matter where they're from. 

Bödeln: For me it's DSBM, a genre I assume we all listen to. But also ambiance and other kinds of black metal. I'm also listening to bands unrelated to DSBM. 

3. How does the creation process look like? 

The Associate: Some kind of melancholic mood tends to help, and is almost necessary for the music not to feel completely forced. I also tend to compose alone with benzodiazepines, sometimes in combination with speed. Benzo makes you really creative. 

Drabbad: For lyrics, it's during the night I get my inspiration and ideas, and I write a few sentences from which I later make lyrics out of. What I write about is kinda dark things such as mental illness, homelessness, drugs, alcohol, misanthropy and hate against society. 

Bödeln: The Associate kind of writes all the music, and the recordings of the drums haven't really been as planned. We are all kinda free to write lyrics. I have rarely had any bad critics about what I've seen or heard. 

4. Describe your sound for those who haven't yet listened to you. 

Drabbad: It's depressive rock music with influences from black metal. The lyrics are poetic and personally I take some inspiration from Grioa when I write. We use speech in some songs and also clean vocals. We've found our own style which we feel comfortable with. The music is kinda easy to listen to, and depressive. 

5. Most bands usually have an annoying fuck who wish to control, in other words a band leader. Do you have a Hitler in the band? 

Drabbad: Hahaha! Pessimisten... yeah, if someone's a Hitler, it's him. He can say a song or a riff just completely sucks. Haha, but we never fight in, we go with democracy. We others thinks it's good he says what he thinks. I prefer that than some ass licker who agrees on everything and lies about what he thinks. We all go along well together, even though we all suffer from different mental illnesses. 

Pessimisten: Haha! I'm definitely our Hitler! I'm really a perfectionist and can't be easy to deal with all the time. But no one has more to say than anyone else in the band, and if we all disagree about something - we'll just vote. We never had any fights. The rest of the band members are really easy to deal with, and we mostly share the same view on things and are satisfied with the music we make. 

Bödeln: I don't think we have any Adolf at all, but I can feel it's sad I haven't been able to contribute much in the creation process. 

6. Tell us a bit about the purpose of your music! 

Drabbad: A part of the purpose is to enlighten people about the dark side of society. The mentally sick addicts who many people don't know. I think I speak for everyone here when I say I turned myself away from society. We aren't normal, we are affected. We do not function socially, and we fail to fit into society. We want to show you the asocial and sometimes depraved reality of ours. Personally, I'm pro suicide and I don't care if people die. 

Bödeln: I find it important to share my view of social exclusion and mental illness, in my lyrics. My purpose has so far been to play drums and contribute with lyrics about the life I live.

7. The video for 'Västerås' is nice and original, how important is the visual aspect for you? 

The Associate: What's important is that what we portray feels honest and right. If it ends up like shit, we can still rely on that we did what felt right for us. Of course everyone wants to public beautiful things, so it's an important aspect. What's difficult is to find your own touch to it, and I can now think that the 'Västerås' video is a bit out of Ofdrykkja's style, yet it has a message I still feel for. My idea to the concept with a stray dog in focus came after a conversation with Drabbad, when he described the situation when he was homeless. I can also relate to this distanced relation to what is seen as normal, but in a whole different level than someone with a home. 

The fact that the video was shot around the worthless ugly concrete which was built during the 60's includes some kind of love-hate relationship. 

Bödeln: Visual parts are good for the listeners. There is an unwritten rule that you can't have pretentious videos within black metal. I think that's sad, because I love videos in which people have put a lot of time and money, as long as there's a message and something mystical about it. 

8. We visited Västerås during a festival and afterwards we were forced to wait for hours before the night bus would arrive, and we don't feel like returning. How do you experience Västerås? You don't seem very happy about the place? 

Pessimisten: Västerås used to be a kinda big industrial town, some decades ago, but most of it has now been shut down, and the town consists of offsprings from the lower working class. There's nothing about this place that would make anyone want to go here. It was once called "powder city", and sure, amphetamine is still consumed a lot here on our grey streets, but quality is something that belongs from the past. These days it's more known as "MDPV city". No one is happy about this place. 

9. Not every city gets a bad nickname like that, but how comes Västerås is called MDPV city? Except the general dissatisfaction. Is it because you consume unusual amounts of MDPV in Västerås, or is the town unusually psychosis inducing compared to other cities you have had personal experience of? 

Pessimisten: Lately it has gotten better, but one or two years ago MDPV was consumed a lot, and it was mixed with amphetamine (you can mix out the amphetamine a lot and just add a tiny bit of MDPV to make it strong again). It really sucks when you expect an amphetamine rush and instead you get a psychosis. 

Bödeln: There are drugs in every city, small or big. I can't tell if there are more drugs in Västerås than in other cities. Here in Hudiksvall/Gävle we have a wide spread addiction of mostly amphetamine, prescribed opiates and benzo. Not much heroin, though. It's easier to see the addiction in smaller towns, than it is in bigger ones.

 10. Which band would you preferably do a split with? 

Drabbad: Ved Buens Ende, while they existed, or todays Virus would have been nice to have a split with. Abyssic hate as well. It would have been a big difference in music styles though. 

Pessimisten: If disbanded bands counts, I would definitely say Woods of Infinity. They have self distance and a humor I like, and they make it fit well together with the dark music they make. Other bands in the scene takes themselves too seriously. 

11. Do you have enough material to release a full length or EP through a label? 

Pessimisten: Yes, actually we do, but we want to make two more songs before we see the album as completed. 

The Associate: We already have contact with a few labels and things are looking bright. 

12. Except a CD release, we would like to see a DVD release with your music videos, and which maybe also could include some exciting bonus material. What are your thought about that? 

The Associate: Yeah, we've had discussions about this matter, and it's not impossible. We do like to express ourselves in different ways and it would absolutely be a possible alternative for us, if there is interest. 

Bödeln: About music videos, there are a lot to put energy on. A lot of spaced ideas I hope to express and talk about with the members. 

13. Thanks for your time, and for doing this interview. Now we're just curious about what will happen next?

 The Associate: I thank you too! What's remaining is the recording of two more songs, and we're working on it right now. 

We are looking forward to release our first album as soon as possible.

[icravemusicx0x0]

rating music pls dont hate me #31 | HIT ME HARD AND SOFT - BILLIE EILLISH

its the same MELANCHOLIC BILLIE we all know and most of the time can relate to. but this time its more PERSONAL and also more openly QUEER at the same time.

BILLIE EILISH is one of those female artists that makes "SAD GIRL" music and becomes HUGE in the music industry (another example can be OLIVIA RODGRIDO). she's probably the biggest of all of them actually. i don't think there needs to be any further explanation from here, so lets focused on the artist's newest album after 3 YEARS, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT.

HIT ME HARD AND SOFT was released in may of this year. as always, the album was co-written with her brother, FINNEAS, he was also responsible for the album's production.

on HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, BILLIE engages with a new style of music different from her older works. BILLIE'S past albums were always in one of two categories: one is DARK, EDGY, and more WELL CONSTRUCTED, the other goes for a more SAFER route in production, and its more MAINSTREAM-FOCUSED that it felts like a CASH-GRAB. this time, she goes for a more LIGHTER and ETHEREAL approach. HIT ME HARD AND SOFT has a more ATMOSHPERIC/AMBIENT approach which contrasts her past production. this new style makes the album a bit LESS REPETITIVE and feels more AMBITOUS and high in QUALITY.

a thing i am paying attention right now in music is what the artist is TALKING about in their song. HIT ME HARD AND SOFT is a more PERSONAL and OPEN album about things she have experienced. let's take the opening track SKINNY: it's a SELF-REFLECTION of her BODY INSECURITIES, her thoughts of SOCIAL PERCEPTION, and FALLING IN LOVE WITH A GIRL. this makes the album more RELATABLE, it becomes RICHER with the QUEER REPRESENTATION. JOJO SIWA this is real GAY POP, you better take notes.

however, the album is RICH, but it is still WEAK. that's the thing in BILLIE's music, her vocal should be more powerful with the music. but overall, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT shows great IMPROVEMENT in her MUSIC CREATIVITY. BILLIE should play BIG on the next album if she want to make more IMPACT.

underrated gem(s): SKINNY - there no reason to not cry for this one, CHIHIRO - ooh deep house, WILDFLOWER, THE GREATEST, BITTERSUITE - there's like so much to unpack here wthhhhh

tracks that i rec listening: LUNCH - like why not, BIRDS OF A FEATHER, BLUE.

worst track: THE DINER - it lacks taste honestly.

overall score 7.5/10 - this is all opinion so pls no hate

[mikunology]

Mikunology Reviews: Boku wa Hatsune Miku to Kiss wo Shita (2013) (Pt.2)

Alright, here we are with Part 2, where I will chat about the album's second half! Let's get to it!

Part 1 here

Ii, Er Fanclub: I think anyone who vaguely knows of Mikito has heard this one, if it's not ROKI. XD This is another more goofy, fun track about Rin and Gumi being fans of Chinese culture. And I love it! It's a great song, the back-and-forth between Rin and Gumi is so fun to sing along to - the inclusion of actual Chinese words is really fun as well. The drums are great here too. There's not really much I can say on this one that isn't just regular praise?? I highly recommend checking out it's PV by the wonderful Yori and Ryuusee! (Actually, I do have one comment I want to make: unpopular opinion, but I like this original Rin & Gumi version a lot more over Giga's Miku & Len mix. The goofy charm of the original song just jives with me more, although Giga's tuning is stellar.)

Wednesday Blue: This is another remaster, this time of one of Mikito's much older Miki originals. This is more typical rock'n'roll-style track, and it's a bit noisier than Mikito's usual fare. Unfortunately, I do think it's my least favorite on this album: it's a bit…all-over-the-place, compared to Mikito's later work? The Miki vocals are clearer and a bit better than the original NND upload, but they're still notably clunky in some places which can kinda take me out of the song. That said, the song as a whole isn't bad or anything, and it's actually pretty catchy after a few listens - it's just kinda clear this song was written by a less experienced Mikito. (Not to poke fun - everyone starts somewhere!)

Setsuna Plus (Momentary Plus): And here we are, back to Miku Dark again. This song is a bit more abstract in terms of lyrics, I think, but I still find myself coming back to it. There's not much I can say about this one either, honestly? Other than that it's good and that I like it - it has that usual great atmosphere again. However, I do have a slight criticism, I think - as much as I love the way Miku sounds here, I think this song could have done with a bit more powerful vocal instead, after hearing a few covers with characters like Amaga Eru (who can be pretty loud in her base voicebank).

Sarishinohara (Distant Fields): I remember not being too keen on this track at first for some reason? I don't know what was up with me because this song is really lovely XD This is a rock song about the forbidden love between a boy and his best friend and classmate, who has become an idol (and since idols can't date, she can no longer see him). There's such a tragic, melancholic feel to this song that really gets across the pain the boy is in, both in that he can no longer be with the girl despite her being "everywhere", in a sense, both in the instruments and in Miku Dark's vocals. Personally, I find this to be my favorite in the "Sarishinohara" trilogy, since 1) I think the melody is a bit easier to get into compared to the others and 2) just the sheer vibes.

Secret DVD: Ah, this one…the spicy one. A more straightforward rock track with a bit more "vanilla" Miku voice instead of Miku Dark, about doing sexy things. I actually like this one quite a bit despite the mature subject matter - it is pretty catchy, and the guitars are really good here. There's a part in the second verse where there's a harp-like strum and it's really satisfying. I also gotta say, something I always appreciated about Mikito's more sexual songs is that they're usually written in a manner that actually makes the act sound romantic rather than…well, you know. XD (*looks at REOL and Umetora*) I recommend this one for the music alone even if you're not into the song lyrically.

Salad Banya Cauda: Now for something completely different! XD This is one of the very few completely album-exclusive tracks, since I believe all of the tracks on this list have been released with PVs with the exception of this and Gariben Hirose no Shouri. This isn't really a rock track at all - it's a cute little folksy-type song with more acoustic instruments and simple Miki vocals (with the exception of some electric guitar between verses). I like it, though! It's a cute song, it makes you feel like marching through some sunny trees to find some berries or some adventure. However, I do think it can come as a surprise given the vibe of literally everything else. I think you might enjoy it, still!

Gariben Hirose no Shouri (A Geek's Huge Victory): OK, back to rock - this is the other completely album-exclusive track, and honestly? I've come to like it quite a bit. It has that signature nice Mikito J-rock vibe, with some lovely Gumi tuning to go with it. There's not much I can say about it that I haven't said for other songs on this CD, though? Just more of the same good stuff, I suppose. XD However, I really like the end part, where Gumi starts singing some "lalala"'s - something I like about Mikito's rock songs is that some of them feel like they could be played at the end of movies or as ending themes to anime episodes, and this is definitely one such song with the way it plays out.

Sayoko: Ah, this is another famous one. Sayoko is a soft J-rock track about severe depression, and once again uses Miku Dark - I think this is a really brilliant use of her, though, it really fits the song's theme since Miku sounds so melancholic and tired here. The melody is again a bit more understated, but it also really fits. I'm running out of things to say about the music itself XD I really think this song has a great calming vibe to it, despite the sad lyrics…I think someone could find it a great comfort, especially if you relate (like me!).

kiss: Finally, the last track, and the single collaboration on this CD: featuring the great Vocarock producer keeno! Together, he and Mikito form Mikeeno! (I love it when producers do that.) Predictably given their respective work, this is a slow, calm rock ballad about love. Now, I'm not the hugest fan of rock ballads? But I really love this one: the lyrics are really sweet and wistful, the lead guitar is perfect and Miku Dark returns to the gentle sound usually associated with both these producers. If you really like songs like "glow" or the slower songs I've already talked about on this album, you'll definitely love "kiss".

And that, my pals, is the whole CD! Yeah, all in all, for a first album, I think this is an amazing start for Mikito-san and an absolute must-listen if you are an enjoyer of Vocarock. Sure, he isn't the hard-rocking 164 or Utsu, but the soft and atmospheric yet fun and lively tunes by Mikito are incredibly worth hearing. Thanks for reading my first album review, please let me know if you enjoyed it ;v;

now if only I could get this album physically orz

[anomalocariscanadensis]

black metal 🎶 counter-attack!

black metal is one of my favorite genres. screams and tremolos just rub my brain the right way for whatever reason, i love them outside of black metal too (tho i can be picky with vocals especially). plus it's the faggiest subgenre of extreme metal - how many death metal bands would name a song some shit like "Tears of a Melancholic Vampyre"? it's got a lot of theatrical elements, and I tend to judge black metal albums by their overall vibe along with the music.

before i get into the recs, famously and unfortunately, a lot of people in black metal suck in a lot of ways. i generally don't worry too much about this because i'm pirating most of it anyway, but i've checked these ones out and as far as i can tell, none of them suck in any especially bad ways. with that out of the way here are some favorites of mine:

Spectral Wound - Frigid and Spellbound - melodic but uncompromising black metal that sticks within the classic vein, particularly influenced by Gorgoroth and the Finnish scene. one of the few black metal bands with good lyrics, inspirations including Walter Benjamin, Ingmar Bergman, Giorgio Agamben, and Kate Bush. this song is their catchiest, with some really good melodic riffs. no left theorists show up directly within its lyrics, which are instead about the beauty of a frozen river, and a Grindr hookup ("Come to me anon/Deranged and defiled/Twisting in dark passions/Of the cruel nauseous hours").

Mortuary Drape - Not Still Born (The Unborn Plane) - founded in the late 80s, this Italian band is one of the best of the "first wave" of black metal, from when it was all sort of a soup of black/death/whatever. they're influenced by occult rock and their sound predates the Norwegian codification of the standard black metal style, so they're light on the blast beats, tremolo riffs, and Satanism and heavy on the bass, necromancy, and occultism. though not nearly as influential as Bathory or Celtic Frost, they've inspired a decent few bands in their own right. this one's about getting reincarnated.

Yaotl Mictlan - Nada Verde Crece Aquí - one of the first songs that got me into the genre, and still a favorite. melodic folk/black metal which makes good use of some indigenous flutes, not a lot of blast beats. lyrics are derived from one of the Nahuatl flower-songs of Nezahuacoyotl, about the impermanence of all things on earth.

Paysage d'Hiver - Welt Aus Eis - the most common word used to describe Paysage d'Hiver is "cold". it's stark and minimal, riding the line between atmospheric and ambient, and barely produced: i once saw someone complaining about being able to distinguish the instruments on a newer album of theirs (or should I say his? it's a one-man project). these days, i get it. everything in this song blends together into an entrancing whole, only broken by snatches of croaking and cackling carried on a freezing wind, and (twice) a beautifully dissonant violin. the lyrics are never comprehensible or transcribed, but conceptually it's about winter and a mysterious spiritual journey, as all their songs are.

Deafheaven - Dream House - You already know this song. It's really good! Takes some of the musical elements of black metal, reconfigures others (more complex drumming, different sorts of melodies in the riffs), and completely changes the aesthetics while still keeping a coherent vibe overall.

Odz Manouk - To Feast on Celestial Bodies - the (one-man) band's name is Armenian for "Snake Child", from a folk tale about a royal couple whose baby was born a serpent. hypnotic dissonant riffs, harsh but clear vocals (with an interesting sort of singing at times), production that's neither too raw nor too clean. super cool song title also. if you go deeper into their music, the split with Tuukaria is not to be missed.

Negative Plane - Angels of Veiled Bone - one of the bands inspired by Mortuary Drape, they take the occult sound and bring it closer to modern black metal while adding a ton of reverb for atmosphere. the vocalist is really good at putting emphasis on the right points in the lyrics, which makes the vocals much more memorable than the average amorphous harsh vox. members' side projects Funereal Presence and Occultation are also excellent.

Iron Firmament - Keepeater - the production on this EP is so bad that the drums mostly just sound like a strobing effect on the rest of the instruments, which is honestly really cool. they've got some more EPs which lose that effect for better or worse. this song is - as you might expect - about covering the sky with iron plates, and a giant serpent that eats castles. i can't make out enough lyrics to tell how those two themes are related.

Gevurah - Dies Irae Lacrimosa - Gevurah are insanely pretentious "orthodox" Satanists (they worship Satan as a literal god, not a symbol of human will or whatever). their theology is some sort of Gnostic anti-cosmic occult shit, which as it turns out makes for really fucking sick black metal. the drums are doing a lot here but the real highlight to me is the boiling tremolo riff that starts a minute in (and gets brought back later with a vengeance). there's one part when it's just the vocalist shouting in a Quebec accent that pushes the cheese factor a bit too far, but the rest is really great.

[kikuism]

so i finished listening to sahar a few days ago. i'd typed out a long post but i am going to rewrite it now. here are my initial thoughts on the songs that stood out to me:

the longing perfectly encapsulates the tone of this new album. step out of the darkness. give in to your longing. 'hid away your longing will only grow / and you'll only grow colder'. it's inviting in a cool, eerie, somewhat foreboding way. i enjoyed it.

i love the dynamic happening in the flame, a sort of breaking apart of two old friends. a trade—a sacrifice—a betrayal ... 'i grow numb with time, but i'm still awake enough to care for both of us.' 'we watched the flame between us turn blue.' it's so short but captivating. a sliver into the lives of these now estranged souls. the instrumental here is very nice.

you don't own me is a song that took me quite a while to warm up to when it was released a couple weeks ago. i feel the songwriting isn't the strongest and falls a bit flat overall—a little generic, and a bit of a disappointment in my eyes. i like the sweeping sound toward the end, and the vocals are of course powerful, but this is probably the song i will skip the most. i didn't care for it as much as i wanted to.

fascination i absolutely adore—i was surprised when this first came out since the subject matter was so not like what i had heard from tamino thus far, warm and sweet but also retaining that wistful melancholic core. 'your fascination has always fascinated me / you make it harder to believe i was ever really here.' to me, this is an observant individual, who is a little jaded, it seems, a little skeptical and perhaps wary of deeper affections, but there is that kernel of longing. they see the world through this other person's eyes, a more vibrant and vivid world. 'i try not to understand, just try not to understand / for i've seen enough to know where i belong, and you can't prove me wrong.' it's melancholic the way rainwater glinting off puddles under the streetlights is. the shift from 'and you can't prove me wrong' to 'and there you prove me wrong', dissolving into 'i cry, i cry' as the song comes to an end. it's a resistance, and then a submission, a finally a breaking for the love to flow through and out.

the first disciple was the first single released for this album and i completely fell in love. the sound, the instrumentals, the vocals, the theme of utter devotion. but it isn't blind devotion. it's very interesting that this disciple is noting the decline of what made their idol/master so noteworthy in the first place. 'and i heed you the way i heed fire and thunder, but from time to time i wonder ... if you did it all to make you feel desired ... to make you feel admired, for love to replace your shame.' it's quite striking for a devotee to harbor such thoughts about the object of their devotion. there's a bittersweet sense of love and sorrow. 'you give it all to make you feel desired ... for love to replace your shame, for us to praise your name.' despite all this the disciple will remain a faithful follower and friend to the end. i love it.

the song that surprised me the most was cinnamon, which is the closest tamino has gotten to a 'pop' sound; it's very vibey, and would definitely be on those relaxing/concentration youtube playlists. i actually really like it, but that 'pop' sound feels a bit out of place next to songs like a drop of blood and the first disciple, even though the tone is also wistful and jaded.

my favorite song without a doubt is a drop of blood. it's that lush, haunting, eerie evocative sound that made me fall in love with tamino’s music in the first place, and it is the song that is the most reminiscent of his first album. a drop of blood is the indigo night of sahar: it's not really sung so much as it is spoken; to me, it's reminiscent of an arabic style of singing called mawwal—characterized by a slow beat and prolonging of vowel syllables. that's what tamino is doing in 'the gentle breeze that stirs their crown flows from the storm that lays them down', in 'but it's never long before an old yearning rises for the cradled nights', etc. it's beautiful. the vibrato in his voice gives me shivers. 'i've seen the sea give men a home and drown them too' instantly reminded me of the parting of the sea in the prince of egypt.

there's an otherworldly, mythical feel to this song that completely captivated me and transported me elsewhere. the way it starts off with trees and wind and sea, and then closes in on this person who broke their wrist, having fallen to the ground, ants crawling along their still, bloodied hand; it's all very earthly and mortal, the sand, the blood. and then—'deep down, sank deep down till i was part of everything / and in a grain of sand, saw peace in holy land / and saw you right in front of me, shapeless, sacred dust / beaming light and trust, covering all harm in shade / then in a drop of blood saw wars be fought for good and saw you make way for man’s truth / just for a while, though just enough, to lose my youth / from that day on i’ve been corrupt.' when a mortal brushes against something divine/greater than their earthly frame and it changes them forever....it makes me go feral. i got chills all over when i listened to this for the first time. if i heard this live i would be forever changed.

my dearest friend and enemy....i know he wrote this one for the tumblrinas. actually this reminds me a little of the flame, perhaps these are the same two people....who knows. it's so wistful....and his voice is so beautiful. this song tugs on my heartstrings. i have to listen to this one more though to really gather my thoughts. but i must hear this one live too.....

so. sahar isn't bright, but it feels like an emergence of sorts, tentative steps out of the cloak of night. i enjoyed hearing new tamino music and hearing him experiment with new sounds. but i must admit though that overall, i fell in love with that melancholic, introspective, darker mood of that first album, which to me encapsulates the voices of both a troubled, skeptical mortal and an introspective deity ruminating over the toils and foibles of humans.

[leclerqued]

female rock music recs????? please bestie???🤲🏻🤲🏻🤲🏻🤲🏻

AHHHHHH this. THIS is my jam. Sorry it's going to probably take a long time to answer bc it's a long list! Ok let's go. Hold yourself tight to your chair because honestly, the good stuff is coming.

Under the cut I'll list my fave songs the female artists I know & like (bands with female vocalists are also included) + links to Spotify, if anyone wants to contribute feel free to reblog and add more! I must admit I'll have a hard time choosing a song when there's so many I like, but I'll do my best.

25 - The Pretty Reckless > I think this is one of the most famous artists I'll put in this list, you'll probably know her from "My medicine", "Make me wanna die", "Death by Rock 'n Roll", but my favourite songs from her are actually the less famous and more... melancholic? I think they're truly too good for this world.

Don't stop the Devil - Dead Posey > I admit I don't know many songs from this artist, but hell, if you need some adrenaline for the day, feel free to ask her.

Mother - In This Moment > I can't begin to describe the vocal abilities of this artist, I'm in AWE. The most famous song is "Whore", but all her songs are equally worth listening. This one gives me shivers...

Daisy - Rain Paris > She makes rock covers of the most famous songs around: you should listen to her version of Montero... anyways, GO LISTEN TO HER!

Black Moon - Cellar Darling > I mean, I said I would put a single song per artist so there we have it, but hell, it was difficult. I just have no words, it's too good to describe.

Danse Macabre - Delain > Did you say "make me the main character"? I love her style and you should too :D

Elisa Lam - SKYND > This is on another level. It might take a bit of out-of-the-box thinking, but honestly, I think this style is cool af.

Pressure - Fifth Dawn > one of my fave songs from this artist alongside "Allure", but the whole album is just *chef's kiss*.

SLO - VUKOVI > Is this rock? IDK. Only thing I know is I wish I had known this band earlier!

Aerials - Halocene (feat. Lauren Babic and Violet Orlandi) > ofc this is a cover from the best song from System of a Down, but they've also done Chop Suey and Toxicity. They mainly do covers!

Can you feel my heart - MOTHICA > I just know a couple of songs from her (and this one is a cover) but take a listen and tell me this isn't the best thing you've ever heard!

Beautiful Delirium - Blackbriar > Okay, we've reached one of my favourite artists/bands. I know all of their songs - which unfortunately are not many - and they're bangers. I don't think many people know them, and it's such a shame! (Zora, the singer, is the one in the header of this post, and she's LOVELYYYYY)

Raise Hell - Doroty > Do you want to do exactly as the song says?? Just go listen to her! So many good songs.

1.000.000 Years - Amaranthe > Another group, another banger. The vocalist is not only the female one but it's good to put this here too.

Trip the Darkness - Lacuna Coil > This is actually an Italian band, even tho I didn't know so until one of my friends told me. Their songs are awesome <3

I miss the Misery - Halestorm > This is one of those songs in which you scream out loud all your hate towards your ex. And you'll also scream a lot in all of their other songs!

[brokenfoolishdreams]

Ley´s Release Corner Jan´22 Boys-Edition (3/3)

DISCLAIMER: This is all my personal opinion and most of the impressions are after first listening. So please keep in mind that my opinion can change and that I respect other opinions too. My rating is just based on how I like the song and has nothing to do with hate or anything else against an Artist. When I don't like a song it doesn't mean I don't appreciate the work and effort that are put into it.

Masterlist

Feel free to let me know what you think of the releases and now let's dive into Kpop:

Title: Slow Mo

Album: B (EP)

Artist: BamBam (GOT 7)

Release: 2022.01.18

First of all the MV is so beautiful I´m in love. "Slow mo" is a calm pop song about taking your time and not rush your feelings and that your just at the beginning of something.

The intro is pretty good for an intro. "Who Are You" is from 2021 so I´m not really counting it in but i really like it. "Subliminial" is completly in english. "Let me love you" ... I mean I have a playlist named like this song so I have to like it. "Ride or die" is more energetic and I enjoyed it the most and it has a little skkrt skkrt at the end and honestly because it´s BamBam I was waiting for it the whole EP.

Rating: 7/10 for (Instrumental: 7/10; Vocals: 7/10; Lyrics: 7/10; Cheography: 6/10; MV: 7/10; Overall Vibe: 7/10)

Rating: 7/10 for B because I like BamBam but the songs aren´t my favorite style.

Title: All eyes down (advance)

Album: Between Darkness and Light (Self n Ego) (EP)

Artist: LUMINOUS

Release: 2022.01.20

This is another fault of Youtube recommendations. Honestly I never heard of them and at this point I already heard so much new music I feel like the most things sound the same but actually I like this pretty much so I have to check them out later. I´m such a simp for deep voiced rap and with the dark theme I can´t help it. The MV has it´s own vibe which make me like it very much.

"MATRYOSHKA" and "Trouble" continue with the heavy vibe while "Scintillation" feels more light and hopefull if that makes sense. "Want it more?" is a mix between the hopefull sound and the heavy one I don´t really now how to describe it but I liked it. And I swear I totally forgot about the EP´s name while rating the songs but I just realized the name fits so extremly well.

Rating: 7,5/10 for All eyes down (Instrumental: 7/10; Vocals: 7/10; Rap: 8/10; Lyrics: 5/10; Cheography: 7/10; MV: 7/10; Overall Vibe: 7,5/10)

Rating: 8/10 for the EP because they surprised me and it shows a good varity of songs and I actually loved every song.

Title: My Life

Album: My Life (Single)

Artist: Mark Tuan (GOT7)

Release: 2022.01.21

I don´t know what I was expecting. But I like this so much because it´s so relatebale. It´s an full english song like his last singles. The MV has a really beautiful fitting aesthetic and the lyrics telling about that you cared so much about others you forgot about yourself.

Rating: 7,5/10 for My Life (Instrumental: 7/10; Vocals: 7/10; Lyrics: 8/10; MV: 8/10; Overall Vibe: 8/10)

Title: Feelin´ Like

Album: IN:VITE U (EP)

Artist: PENTAGON

Release: 2022.01.24

The next group I didn´t know more of than the name and that they are there since 2016. This is already their 12th EP. The MV kinda reminds me of the one from "Crazy About You" from UP10TION following the art gallery vibe. But this one is more dark and the lyrics are going in the sexy-I-want-you concept direction.

"One Shot" and "The Game" have more rock vibes but both with their own style. I like them both but I think I prefere "The Game". "Call My Name" is more funky and "Sparkling Night" and "BAD" are more calm songs you can vibe with very well while "Sparkling Night" is more on the happy side and "BAD" is more melancholic. The last one became my favorite of the album.

Rating: 7/10 for Feelin´ Like (Instrumental: 6,5/10; Vocals: 7,5/10; Rap: 7,5/10; Lyrics: 6/10; Cheography: 7/10; MV: 6,5/10; Overall Vibe: 7/10)

Rating: 6,5/10 for IN:VITE U because I like a few songs but no song felt special to me.

Title: We Heung (Feat. ZU HO(SF9))

Album: We Heung (Single)

Artist: YJP, (ZU HO (SF9))

Release: 2022.01.24

I don´t know what I expected but not this combination of korean tradition, Squid game like outfits and zombies. We stan extraordinary stuff in this house so go and watch the MV. The song is very upbeating EDM party like and pretty enjoyable.

Rating: 7/10 for We Heung (Instrumental: 7/10; Vocals: 6,5/10; Rap: 7,5/10; Cheography: 5/10; MV: 7,5/10; Overall Vibe: 7,5/10)

Title: LIE

Album: LOST IN EUPHORIA (Single)

Artist: BM (Kard)

Release: 2022.01.21 (Song)| 2022.01.28 (MV)

This song goes immediatly in the head and stays there. And I´m really in love with his voice. "Broken Me" is a little bit better but this is good nonetheless. The MV has a lot of Black and White elements and gives the song an even heavier feeling. The lyrics are about that you want to stay lost in euphoria after you found the person you love and being able to escape the pain although maybe you start loosing your way. I hope he continue to release songs like this.

Rating: 7,5/10 for LIE (Instrumental: 8/10; Vocals: 7/10; Rap: 7,5/10; MV: 7,5/10; Overall Vibe: 7,5/10)

Title: Don't Stop

Album: Don't Stop (Single)

Artist: ATEEZ

Release: 2022.01.31

I was like what Ateez again? Does the boys get enough breaks? The full MV isn't offically released on YouTube but on the UNIVERSE App and some Fans uploaded it on YouTube. The MV continues their storyline and shows the group while burning things up, gamble and robbing. The song is highly energetic and sounds just so Ateez-like. The lyrics are about that when you're together you cannot stop.

Rating: 8/10 for Don´t Stop (Instrumental: 8/10; Vocals: 7/10; Rap: 7,5/10; MV: 8/10; Overall Vibe: 8,5/10)

[finkmakescharacters]

changed his piercings up a bit, added a little detail to the tattoos and other little fixes

figured I'd show all his piercings lol

Name: Johnathan "Johnny" Ross

Alias: Rudie Rebelle(drag persona)

Gender: cis male

Age: 21

Birthday: October 4th, 1999

Nationality: British/American

Height: 6'7"

Weight: 162bs

Sexuality: straight

Partner: Loretta Sims(fiancée)

Build: lanky and underweight, visible ribs, hip bones and spine, wide shoulders and narrow hips

Hair Color: naturally dark brown, dyed black and white

Hair Style: thick deathhawk with short sides

Eye Color: deep blue

Skin Tone: pale caucasian

Piercings: a lot, only septum, tongue, lobes, nipples and belly button are non-optional

Tattoos

-Union Jack heart on left shoulder

-sleeve of red, black and white roses on right arm

-stitches around his belly

Hometown: London, UK

Current Residence: Halflight, AZ

Parents: Carolyn Maude(52) and Paul Ross, briefly married, Carolyn took her maiden name back after he abandoned her and Johnny

Other Relatives: Daniel Maude(uncle, 48), Liza Maude(aunt, 46), Juniper Maude(cousin, 22), Duncan O'Reilly(uncle, 40)

Friends: Loretta Sims, Jeremy Fox, Jodie Fox, Oswald Sharp, Venus Estelle, Myles Hawkins

Pet: Waddles(munchkin cat)

Affiliation: The Heart Electric(band, lead vocals and guitar)

Personality: alert, compassionate, empathetic, friendly, genuine, good natured, humble, open, romantic, sensitive, sweet, emotional, frugal, quiet, reserved, soft, anxious, cautious, cowardly, crafty, delicate, fearful, gullible, melancholic, neurotic, shy, timid

Likes: antiques, playing with his band, drag, makeup art, piercings and body modification, sweets, songwriting, sleeping late

Dislikes: amusement parks, alcohol, people raising their voice, scary movies, arguing, large dogs, driving, feeling like he has no choices, being told he's not a real man, comments about his weight

Fears: the open ocean, guns, clowns, bees, surgery, being alone, the dark, losing control

-very sensitive and emotional, cries really easily, sympathy crier, if you start crying so will he

-doesn't own a car but he has a used motorcycle, a 2007 Suzuki Boulevard C50 Black

-lives in a small apartment Loretta and their cat, has a lot of posters on the walls, both his punk band posters and Loretta's cryptid posters

-likes crop tops and tight jeans, also likes his studded leather jacket, mesh tops, leather pants and band tees, anything with spikes is also a hit

-absolute mama's boy ever since he was little, would do anything for his mom and wishes she could visit more

-doesn't know who his dad is, he left him and his mom when he was 10 months old, doesn't care to know

-wasn't a very good student in school, especially as a teenager, fell in with a bad crowd and they pressured him into smoking, drinking, vandalism and stealing, once drove his "friend's" car while drunk and nearly crashed, has sworn off alcohol since but has been smoking since he was 16

-performs with his band as his drag persona, Rudie Rebelle, plays small gigs at bars and parties every weekend, more outgoing and confident in drag

-drag is his secret, would be absolutely mortified if somebody outside his friend group found out he's been dressing as a woman to perform

-light smoker, usually just a cigarette after meals or sex but a stressful day can warrant a few more, nothing like a cigarette after crying in the Wal-Mart bathroom

-doesn't get along with his uncle, aunt and cousin, they're narrow minded and abrasive at best and emotionally/verbally abusive at worst

-loved piercings ever since he was a little kid, his mom has shark bites and an industrial in each ear and he was always fascinated by them, she taught him about piercing care from a young age, wouldn't let him get his ears pierced until he proved he could care for it properly

-speaks with a cockney accent, naturally soft spoken and isn't keen on raising his voice outside of a gig

-hates the smell of marijuana, his friends respect this and don't smoke around him

-learned to play guitar as a teenager, always admired the confidence in his favorite bands and wanted to be just like them

-if he has nothing to do that day, Johnny will go to bed at 6am and wake up around 2-3pm

-doesn't have much of an appetite and gets full quickly, tries to eat several small meals through the day

-very comfortable in piercing parlors, he's afraid of a lot of things but needles and metal in his skin isn't one

-had the worst separation anxiety as a toddler

-learning to become a professional piercer, currently an apprentice

-not huge on babies and small children, school age children are usually okay, all they wanna do is touch his spiky jacket and hair

-please don't stare at him, yes he has a lot of piercings no you don't need to gawk at him

-used to love Pokemon as a kid, Loretta has reintroduced him to it and Electabuzz is still his favorite, more into GO than the main series

-not really book smart but can fix things from his motorcycle to music boxes to the kitchen sink

-huge fucking dork that writes like a dozen mushy songs about his girlfriend

-mom is a witch, didn't inherit any of her magical powers

-very hairy chest and armpits

-favorite bands include The Ramones, Cockney Rejects, Subhumans, The Business and Stiff Little Fingers

-likes having the radio on more than the TV, can't help but sing along 

Voice(or as close as I can find lol): https://youtu.be/JE6btxPRPXg

[happymetalgirl]

Bring Me the Horizon - amo

For better and for worse, this one has been a long time coming. If Sempiternal was the irritated throat fans brushed off as nothing, then That's the Spirit was their first terrifying handful of blood coughed up after ignoring diagnostics, and amo is the progression of the untreated pop infection in Bring Me the Horizon's lungs that has progressed beyond treatment. For fans uneasy about the band's trajectory in 2015, this album is no easy pill to swallow.

I've been rather critical of a lot of bands aping Bring Me the Horizon's more try-hard anthemic metalcore style since the success of 2013's Sempiternal, but for Bring Me the Horizon themselves, I've actually had at least a little bit of appreciation for the boldness and ambition with which they have seemed to try to push their brand of metalcore since their 2010 album There Is a Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven, Let's Keep It a Secret. But with that appreciation of what they are trying to do to bolster their sound has also come with a lot of frustration when it comes to the execution, whether it be the repetitive formula on Sempiternal yielding some seriously irritating tunes whose energy only magnified their obnoxiousness, or the horrendous watering down that neutered any idea of ambition on That's the Spirit.

It has been about four years since the band's aggravating previous album, and for myself, the metal community outside the band's fanbase, and even within, those four years have been spent nervously gritting teeth in anticipation of what the band would progress toward next. And now it's here. Given the sour turn the band took with That's the Spirit, my hopes for amo were not high at all. In fact after a series of lackluster maimstream-ish releases so far this year, I was ready for the cherry to top the shit sundae with this album. That being said, amo is definitely bolder and a much more thoughtful continuation of Bring Me the Horizon's quest for pop glory, and one that is at least more determined and more comprehensive than That's the Spirit. The band finally commit to the sound they clearly wanted to make their way to, and in some ways it's good that they're not trying to cover their bases as thinly as possible like they were with their previous album. Indeed, there are a few tracks on here I enjoy quite a lot.

The band fully commit to the sounds and writing styles of Top 40 pop these days, and this album would definitely blend right in with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Shawn Mendes. I feel like I have to address my distaste for Top 40 music in general and clarify that it's not based in a simplistic, tribalistic feud I see lots of metalheads take part in, where it's the principle of pop vs. rock or mainstream music vs. outsider music that's being fought over. No, I definitely enjoy me some thoughtfully done pop music and even some indulgently tasty pop as well. What I don't like is the sterility of the music from the likes of Halsey, Macklemore, Camila Cabello, or whoever made that shit song "The Middle" selected to be the goal for pop artists to strive for to reach radio/playlist success. And then there's the despised Imagine Dragons, the only pop rock band in existence apparently, based on how much time they suck up on the radio. I know this is a sidetrack and I know that radio is not the prime outlet it used to be, but it still represents a lot of what pop trends towards these days, and it continues to set a precedent for vapid, lazy songwriting, and corporately calculated pandering. That being said, there's the occasional song I'm surprised, not so much by my enjoyment of, but of the presence of something enjoyable coming from a mainstream pop outlet, and that's what amo seems to be going for.

I gave this album quite a few listens, both to really get to know it as per usual, and because this kind of pop isn't my usual forte, and it was interesting to see how the album transformed in my eyes with each successive listen. My first time hearing it, I knew I was going into a straight-up pop album, and with the ilk of Top 40 stations as my barometer, I was actually pretty relieved and pleasantly surprised to not be slamming my head against the nearest wall for the 51 minutes it lasts. But then I remembered, "wait a minute, this is a pop album, it loves to ride a good first impression, see how it is after 4, 5, 6 listens." And sure enough, it waned on me the more I listened.

The parts that I really enjoy did rise to the top as the rest sank, but with a better understanding of this album's content and what it's trying to achieve, I end up with a lot of the same frustrations I had with the band on Sempiternal and its predecessor, just in a less heavy format/context this time. Like the band's first metalcore-departing albums, amo has some good stylistic ideas and it works well with them, but the band's inconsistent results with the repetitive formulas they emply continues to be the limiting factor for them. On the vocal front, Oli Sykes clearly channels Minutes to Midnight-era Chester Bennington all over the project, from the raspy borderline shouted melodies and overwhelmingly polished cleans, while also making a very pop-influenced use of his falsettos as well, and as much as it often teems over with blatant imitation, at least I can't complain about his execution; he's on point pretty much the entire time, which could be thanks to some production crutches, but Sykes' performances sound watertight nonetheless. The rest of the band are much more present than I thought they would be, not as drowned out in gaudy pop production (which does still become a bit too much at some points, but for the most part it's pretty tasteful and balanced throughout the album).

Songs like "nihilist blues" do well to set futuristically melancholic moods through modern electro pop instrumentals, while on songs like "MANTRA" and "sugar honey ice & tea" (a cheesy roundabout way to title the song "shit"), the band try to keep the guitar-driven energy high while blending more pop-oriented elements and performance/production techniques, and the blend is at least a refreshingly alive spin on the egg-shell-treading stlyes of this era of pop music. But the band still don't really manage to make what sounds good on paper actually sound as good as it should through speakers, churning out some annoying melodies through the overly repetitive structures that take bad pop songs from displeasing to disgusting. And these songs have some potential and some parts of them that I wish weren't wrecked by overproduction or cheesy choruses, "sugar honey ice & tea" especially has some invigorating building rock instrumentation in its verses, but the band don't really follow through on the hollow, high-pitched electro vocal-laden chorus. But then there are the songs that (I think) don't really have any redeeming qualities.

The songs where Bring Me the Horizon really just lean all the way into this new role as a prospective pop act are the ones where they of course fall into the styles' predictable pitfalls. Straightforward pop numbers like "mother tongue" and "medicine" channel kiddish lyrics about love and embodying vindictiveness respectively through bland, unimaginative instrumentation. Another track, "in the dark", runs in kind of the same vein of unadultered pop with Oli Sykes doing his best Shawn Mendes impersonation, but is at least a little bit more soulful and less robotic.

Back in the gray area is the song "heavy metal", which takes aim at the attitudes of discontented fans being mad at the band for continuing to shift styles. I understand that there are definitely a lot of stubborn people willing to let that be sufficient justification for their reasons for lampooning the band's change in style, but there are plenty of reasons to be apprehensive about this new direction that lots of other people are articulating that the band could have addressed instead of minimizing the criticism surrounding them to the reductive basement-dweller strawman. Instrumentally though, it is one of the heavier songs on the album, ending with the album's only screamed breakdown, as short as it is.

As far as highlights go, the song "why you gotta kick me when i'm down?" is a convincing electronic banger that finds low-register synths mimicking the crunch of the guitar the band usually uses, and doing so well. Lyrically it oozes of the same kind of inability to accept criticism as "heavy metal", but at least this song's fierce potency makes a good case for the band's being above the type of simplistic criticism they lament. The song "wonderful life" is by far the best song on the album with its gritty electro-nu metal guitar groove and its anthemic vocal melody in the chorus raising a defeatist toast to growing old and burning out. The pop influences are still easily palpable, but taking a support role rather than the lead, with the band driving the song with the down-tuned metal riffage they do well that made Suicide Season and the best parts of Sempiternal.

For what could have been the definitive nail in the coffin for a lot of people like me who hated That's the Spirit, amo is definitely a mixed bag in classic Bring Me the Horizon fashion, but that sure is a lot better than the torturous train wreck I was expecting (especially after hearing "mother tongue" and "medicine" as preliminary singles), and it at least shows that this band does indeed have the potential to do well in this metal-flavored pop niche they're trying to carve out, and by all means I would love for them to do well with it. I think it is important for metal to continue to make good entry-level material for the new generations, and entry-level material that immersed fans can bond with new fans over as well and for younger generations to be able to look back at fondly after diving deep into the wonderful world of metal music. I definitely don't think amo is quite that album, but it is a gateway, and it does suggest that somewhere in Bring Me the Horizon's collective creative potential exists that album, which only tenacity and further perfection of this style they've arrived at can uncover.

better than Halsey/10

[existentialmagazine]

Review: More In Luv document their journey in new single 'Living For Two'

Since setting foot into the music industry in 2020, More In Luv have already boldly solidified their place within indie-pop as they consistently churn out new hits as well as their debut EP 'Local Celebrities.' Perfect for fans of Fickle Friends, Larkins or just those who enjoy tracks that embody a summery day into a three minute slice of heaven, you'll be hooked on these newcomers and eager to hear more - and lucky for you, they keep giving.

This four-piece's newest single follows on from their 2021 staples 'Like You' and 'Someone Else', both amassing critical acclaim from outlets like Gigwise and more. 2022 sees them hit the stage too, with a number of live shows planned for the next few months as an exciting start to the new year.

'Living For Two' marks a change in More In Luv's usual styling, with this new single determined to slow it down and create a refreshing new sound as they dip their toes into more of a chilled affair than a euphoric summer evening. Electric guitar strums ring out unafraid to make a statement every time the chorus hits, pulled together by various sunny-feeling sound effects and a steady drum beat that keeps the slow pacing at bay. Overlaid by their vocalist's softened, drawn-out lines is the cherry on top of this catchy new single, pouring the focus of the release onto the powerful message 'Living For Two' wishes to deliver. You may think the group may loose their staple glow as their usual feel-good, youthful sound is put on halt, yet even slowed down the four-piece manage not to loose their twinkles of blue skies and breezy living that underlies every guitar strum and vocal tone as though it's a part of them just as much as it is the music.

Striking up an important conversation, More In Luv penned this new release to cover their journey and the difficulties of love and money along the way. A handful of lines stood out with their self-assured delivery, but professing the struggles of pursuing music in a world that continually underpays their talents was eloquently expressed in one of the first verse and chorus lines, 'I don't wanna waste my time, sitting around for 365, I think I'm slowly losing my mind... I don't want to be famous, I just wanna make that killing with you.' It's almost ingenious to pair such a personal, conversational narrative into a release that not once feels down or melancholic. Even as the struggles of the lyricism seep through into the sound, the uplifting styling leaves a message of hope in the darkness that in the end we can all be living for two in a world of our own bliss.

The band note of the single that, "Living For Two’ was written about being from a place where you’ve never felt protected by the people hired to do exactly that, and despite it all, all you want to do is build a good life for yourself and the people you love.”

Give a listen to this shift in sound for the group here, as More In Luv continue to amass a dedicated following and a sound that's sure to make waves!

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Clearway Media