A stream of rattling rippers, jagged jams, and romantic reveries

All 20 knockouts together on Spotify…

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Knockout by Knockout…

1. ‘Shaman’ by THE CHRONICLES OF MANIMAL AND SAMARA (London)

Shaman progresses like a vicious viper working its way to a grandiose climax. Determined, but always wary of sudden danger. Shaman dumbfounds and flummoxes while the song’s tension intensifies and has a spine-chilling effect. From the duo’s upcoming album Trust No Leaders, out 1st of July.

Watch the grandiose video clip…

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2. ‘Welcome To Hell’ by BLACK MIDI (UK)

The band’s third LP, baptized Hellfire is ready for release on 15th July.

The first single is a screwy zig-zagging masterstroke doing your head in.

Hell yeah…

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3. ‘It’s The Truth’ by DION LUNADON (New Zealand)

Echoes like a neurotic chainsaw flare-up.

A roaring riff slashes and thrashes throughout this psych-o-tic hellraiser. Add Lunadon‘s freakish vocals and you know that this brainbreaker will test the resilience of your stereo. Fucktastic! From new album Beyond Everything

Probably your favorite nightmare…

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4. ‘Zick Zack’ by RAMMSTEIN (Germany)

The bombastic German metal machine have
a new, their 8th, longplayer out, called Zeit.

Their same old recipe still works.

My fav sledgehammer on the LP is Zick Zack.

Ridiscouly infectious
Great Scheiße shit!

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5. ‘Troglodyte’ by VIAGRA BOYS (Sweden)

The Swedish mavericks have their 3rd full length Cave World out on 8 July.

But first this hot-blooded straightforward snorter. Gabba Gabba Viagra!

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6. ‘Nice Guy’ by FAB THE DUO (Los Angeles)

“Be You. Be Proud. And Be Loud!” is the duo’s motto.
So, I guess you know what to expect.

Sounds like a punked-up Weezer juggernaut.
This bang-on master blaster is bitch of a slam dunk.

Get up, stand up and fight for your right to be a nice guy…

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7. ‘Striking Like Thunder’ by LOWERY MILLS (Canada)

This thunder and lighting corker strikes big time from the first chord on, to the final one. Classic riffage rock with an anthemic plangency, a flaming drive, and a mammoth chorus. Add aroused vocals and the overall result is an ear-popping champion you’ll have on repeat for a while.

Titanic score.

Rock out…

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8.’Digging’ by NOTHINGHEADS (London)

These DIY misfits have a new 5-track EP out, titled DIGGING.
You can buy it on Bandcamp.

My numero uno cracker is the title track.

The band’s frontman sounds like his own meanest demon.
Threatening and ready to kick badasses. This uppercut goes
mental on schizophrenic guitars and merciless drums.

Get electrified here…

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9. ‘Not For You’ by JANIS (Berlin, Germany)

To hell with all ruthless power abusers. That’s the central sharp-cutting message
of this new Janis jackhammer that causes a racing rush of blood through your veins.

This cocksure swipe is stoked up by jagged guitars,
by a steadfast drums/bass force, and by biting vocals.

Fuck Putin!

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10. ‘Contagious’ by MIMOSA (Sheffield, UK)

What do you think of this? Topliners Arctic Monkeys turning up their amps or Liverpool legends The La’s if they would have been a rapid-fire punk turbo. Sounds insane, right?
You bet.

Spiky guitars zigzagging madly all over the place, John Bonham-like
drum brutality hits hard, and Alex Turner‘s younger brother is singing.

Be ready to move like a nutter on
a pogo stick. Contagious pyrotechnics.

Blitz-tastic…

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11. ‘The Frequency’ by RICHES

Dream pop splendor in motion, with shiny synths, bouncy basslines,
laid-back drums, sensual vocals, and majestic orchestration. This winsome
humdinger will find its way to your yearning heart and your restless soul.

Right here…

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12. Up The Mountain’ by REGINA SPEKTOR (Russia/America)

Spektor will make her fans happy with Home, Before And After.
Her 7h longplayer landing on 24 June.

Ahead of it this sublime pop pearl. Frisky and catchy.

Enjoy…

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13. ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’ by SAM CASEY (Toronto)

This timeless Etta James gem is 55 years old. It was written
by Ellington Jordan and co-credited to Billy Foster and James.

Songstress Sam Casey‘s heart-and-soul touching rendition
sends shivers down your spine, with her goosebumps voice.

Casey about the video: It feels so vulnerable to see the results of my raw emotion and struggle that this is almost difficult to watch. As soon as we started filming, the lyrics (and most likely, the fact that I was crying between takes) took everyone to this dark yet loving place where tears were being shed, but there were hugs and kisses floating around all night.”

Magnific…

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14. ‘Desert Storm’ by HOLY COVES (Wales)

Desert Storm is a psychedelic thrill with the hypnotizing and repetitive dynamism
of Krautrock. Its vibrant vigor and steadfast swagger roll all the way.

Pounding drums push the track continuously, guitars glimmer,
and febrile vocals add a shadowy timbre. Bingo.

What you hear
is what you get…

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15. ‘The Order’ by MEAR (Toronto)

This synth dream-pop duo has their
debut album Soft Chaines out now.

A gripping work inspired by physical pain leading to psychological pain feeding doubt, despair, and anguish. Often musicians use their work to process adversity. That’s what happens on this album. The layered synth orchestrations add melancholic warmth and here and their guitars gently weep while Miller‘s voice is the wandering star in the middle. An enticing debut with a harrowing, human touch.

My favorite piece of the record is the opener The Order.

A shadowy musing with sparkling synths…

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16. ‘Boltfor’ by MOGWAI (Scotland)

Last year the Scottish veterans excited critics and
fans with their 10th LP As The Love Continues.

One song, from the same sessions, didn’t make the album as it wasn’t finished yet at the time. But it’s now ready to meet the world. It’s classic Mogwai euphony with swelling layers of synths, sheeny guitars, and slow-paced drums. The finale is just Homeric.

And a great video too…

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17. ‘Sunbleached’ by TIDAL WAVE (Canada)

Twinkling guitars draw you into this touchy-feely daydream from the get-go. The color is blue, the melody is melancholic, the voice is wondering. This is a shoegazy gem for heavyhearted hearts and vulnerable souls, a soothing score for all romantics among us. The vibe is idyllic, the tone is hazy, the end result is just wondrous.

Listen/watch and feel better…

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18. ‘Special Satellite’ by SUBATOMIC SATELLITE (Belgium)

I’m sure you know that feeling of awakening in the morning and your first thought is ‘I don’t want to get up and face the cruel world, out there, today‘. But some smart cells in your brains tell you that you have no choice as you can’t escape reality. Not today, not tomorrow, never.

That very moment smooth and soft shanties like this one help you to ease your
moody state of mind. By mingling shimmery guitar sparks, shooting synths, spirited melodiousness, and comforting vocals in a happy-go-lucky way you can imagine you’re
on a special satellite where life colors pink again.

Lou Reed called it the satellite of love.

Press play here…

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19. ‘The Getaway’ by THE AFGHAN WHIGS (Ohio)

The passionate rockers announced their 9th LP, named
HOW DO YOU BURN? I’ll land on 9/11.

After the lead firework single I’ll Make You See God
Greg Dulli and Co
slow down for this evocative lullaby…

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20. ‘Anything’ by SHARON VAN ETTEN (New Jersey)

The wonderful songstress released her new longplayer
We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong earlier this month.

One of the highlights is this longing love song…

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See/hear you next month, music junkies