A song that tells the tragic story of the loss of frontman Scott Marsden‘s
uncle Tony, who sadly drowned as a child in Cyprus. It was a story Scott was
told from a very young age, staying with him his whole life, creating a fear
of the water.
TUTV: An astonishing piece of riff-roasting catharsis
Marsden: “After my Mum passed away last year it got me thinking a lot about death,
and what does all this really matter after we’re gone. We really do need to make the most
of the time we have, and to make each day count. There really is always a light at the end
of the tunnel, however hard it may seem.”
TUTV: Another flaming and voltaic, vintage HC burst.
Angus Rogers (frontman): “Rock and roll music for the empty and stunning.
A song about contempt, appetite, impotence and self-preservation through
gyration. Enjoy superficially with your body and send the reeling mind on
to hell.”
TUTV: Wham Bam! Yeah Yeah! Go Go! Oh my Oh My! Razzle Dazzle!
This is the kind of adrenaline-pumping thrills I wait impatiently for
every single day.
Get up, stand up, and fight
for your right to show off.
“‘Although it’s a big, joyous dance track, it’s about hiding deep emotional pain and trauma and how hedonistic coping mechanisms, like drugs, alcohol, and womanizing, are just temporary distractions.”
TUTV: This is what amazing pop-ular music is all about. Big melody, big emotions, big orchestration. Euphorically sticky as first-class glue despite its dramatic ‘real life‘ story. Aftermath soul-searching can work cathartically.
Who: Irish post-punk whirlwind, led by charismatic
voice/songwriter/guitarist Karla Chubb.
Track: BETTER
Along with Something’s Gonna Happen, my top fav track
on their brand new, second LP, called All That Is Over.
TUTV: Every time I play this pure punk-rock gem, I feel way better.
It’s striking swagger, superb groove, passionate duet vocals, and
high-strung guitar play mesmerize.
Who: The moniker of Massachusetts‘ chilling singer-songwriter Izzy Hagerup. She released her debut album Through The Window
in 2023.
Track: SYSTEM
First new piece and title track from her
2nd LP, coming our way on October 3rd.
Hagerup: “When I wrote ‘System’ I was supposed to be present and alive
and gracious and happy. But somehow I couldn’t escape my own internal
fears and depression that can follow me wherever I go.”
TUTV: What a brilliant torch song. Weeping guitars come and go while Hagerup‘s heart-stopping vocals cause goosebumps. And what a fuming
finale.
TUTV: Its ominous mid-tempo dynamics, its distorted vocals, and its riff-psychotic razzmatazz resonate as if you are listening to the scary theme song of a horror movie.
At the 2.30 minute mark, all hell breaks loose.
From a whisper to a scream. From planet Earth
to Dante‘s Inferno.
Track: FOUR
One of the highlights from their
brill 2nd LP Never Exhale
TUTV: Ditz operate in a very dark place. Sonically, as well as lyrically.
In the middle Cal Francis barks at the moon, while dense drones
infiltrate your shocked ears. Inhale, exhale.
TUTV: This 4-piece grab you by the throat from the kick-off and never lose their firm grip, while vociferous vocalist Marie De Graeve‘s has a crushing impact on your petrified stereo. Liar is a titanic motherrocker that pulverizes the Richter scale in just 250 seconds. Queens Of The Stone Age, Deftones and Black Sabbath come to mind.
TUTV: OMG! What a riot-gun banger. These Irishmen create suffocating havoc with
a maddening mix of nasty racket that brings illegal-decibels-producing bands such as
NIN and Metz to my cooking mind.
TUTV: Ecstasy. Elation. Euphoria. Exhilaration. This electro smack makes
you bounce and jump on your pogo-stick. They punch you in the teeth
without asking, while having fervent fun.
Who: Belgian noise rock trio whose sound draws influences from bands such
as Black Midi, Tool, Battles, and Swans, blending dissonance with a strong sense
of identity.
Track: NANDOR
Piece from their ace
3rd album Trois.
TUTV: What the fuck! From the very kick-off, chainsaw guitars do your
brain in. Electric chair electricity throughout. No way to escape. Neurotic
vocals complete this blitzkrieg assault.
Band: DOWN THE LEES Who: The post-rock noise project of seasoned Canadian
singer/songwriter/guitarist Laura Lee Schultz. DTL released
3 notable albums, so far.
Track: MIDI DORIC
First single. A song that deals with the
isolation and depression of the pandemic.
TUTV: A characteristic DTL thunderstorm, cranked up by blustery bass lines,
monstrous guitar riffs, Herculean drumming, Schultz‘s sky-scraping vocals and
a volcanic finale. One of the best noizz rock bands around.
TUTV: It’s a sublime, crystalline pop nugget, with its hypnotizing guitar riff,
the non-stop drum beat and the intertwined, spellbinding vocals of Win Butler
and his spouse, Régine Chassagne.
Band: KASABIAN Who: British star rockers from Leicester. One of the best bands
of the past 25 years on record and on stage, in my book.
Track:HIPPIE SUNSHINE.
Lead single from their forthcoming
9th LP. Details TBA.
TUTV: Expect a mega vitalizing, disco-charged haymaker.
Since co-founder/songwriter/frontman Serge Pizzorno pulls
all the band’s strings, he provides dynamite tunes you can
throw 24-hour parties with.
Who: One of the most adventurous/inventive/original post-punk & dub artists/performers
ever. He was a founding member of genre-bending new wave group The Pop Group and released lots of solo and collaborative records. Unfortunately, he passed away 2 years ago,
only 62.
Track: MEMORY OF YOU
Single from Stewart‘s solo album The Fateful Symmetry,
which was completed early 2023, not long before his passing.
TUTV: Haunting, synth-symphonic and bang-tastic,
with Mark‘s characteristically energetic voice on top.
First single from their forthcoming 4th full-length, their
first in 4 years, slated for release in September 2026.
TUTV: Holy Coves are back, and they don’t waste time. It’s full steam ahead from
the get-go. Eager guitars and sinewy drumming inject this sweltering steamroller with
a flaming briskness that causes a kinetic reverberation, while Marsden emotive vocals accentuate the song’s sad sentiments.
Who: 2-piece from Birmingham (UK) – Euan Woodman (drums/vocals) and Tom Rhodes (bass/vocals) – born in late 2023 over a shared love of noise, literature and late night shebeens. They write music about love and hate. They’re good for your soul.
TUTV: Warning. This insanely groovy punk blast will bulldoze all over your shocked speakers. Expect a superheated funky firestorm that attacks the Richter scale with a shattering impact. A manically jagged jackhammer it is. Trust me, you’ll think you like them, VERY MUCH, while you bang your head into your fridge’s door.
Who: A collective with members scattered across the UK and the Netherlands.
This group, now comprising seven members, has its roots in a trio that expanded
over the past four years.
New track: WET LEATHER
Piece from their sophomore
LP Total Technik.
TUTV: Kraut-rock and roll with an intoxicating force. A wall-of-guitar-pyrotechnics rollercoaster. An overpowering tempest of rambunctious riffs. Voltaic psychedelia
at its spine-chilling best, bombarding your ears the way you like it.
Who: The musical project of singer-songwriter-poet Jamie Cameron. Hailing from
the Scottish Borders, the music blends lo-fi beats, synths and guitars with spoken word lyrics in which he discusses subjects ranging from politics and premonitions to self help culture, and a modern society obsessed with economic thinking.
TUTV: This rattling rap ‘n’ punk roll crackerjack swings forth and back, left
and right and Jamie Cameron’s full of vim and vigour word-flow activates all
of your insatiable limbs before he relaxes towards the synthy end. Kinetic throb.
Hands up for the coach.
TUTV: A nasty bass riff motorizes this rollicking psych jam that seems to go on
like forever, and when the powerhouse chorus kicks in, your ears are instantly
overwhelmed. Life Is Joy is one of those riff-crazy haymakers that stick after just
Who: Mysterious trio with an inimitable take on
humanity’s downward spiral into a dysfunctional
entropic existence. They unleashed their punk-groovy
debut EP Like You last year.
TUTV: This arresting, melancholic song is heart-rending. Its bluesy guitar
radiance, its bass-beat-heavy cadence, and despondent vocals get under
your skin. Its melodic catchiness has irresistible written all over it.
TUTV: A razzle-dazzle steamroller that gets under your skin faster
than you can say “this is bloody superb”. Its insane, mind-bending
course doubles your serotonin production on the spot.
Who: Must hear/see indies from Brighton (where everybody is in a band).
They cruise from folk to punk, using, besides traditional instruments (guitar,
bass and drums) also cello, flute, violin and other classical gear.
TUTV: These young wolves bulldoze their way through the daily
bullshit we have to endure with a knife between their teeth. Sippy Cup
is a bruising, full of vim and vigor, uppercut hitting where it hurts.
TUTV: A nasty bass riff motorizes this rollicking psych jam that seems to go on
like forever, and when the powerhouse chorus kicks in, your ears are instantly
overwhelmed.
Life Is Joy is one of those roasting riff-insane haymakers that stick after just
one spin. The repeat button was invented for mind-bending juggernauts like
this. Sun Mahshene is blistering joy. Wowzah!
Artist: FIG TREES Who: The artistic project of Belgian songsmith JJ Vroman, a former music journalist.
He’s inspired by bands such as Captain Oats, And They Spoke In Anthems and ADM.
They appear as mythical figures in his musical odyssey.
Piece from his upcoming debut
album, titled ‘Room 22‘.
TUTV: This feels good, really good. From the kick-off, you’re drawn into an electrifying guitar-juiced groove that will play on your stereo in your head all day long. No need to
look for hooks, you get a ton of them right here.
When Vroman turns up the speed for the dazzling chorus (is that a banjo I hear in the
back?) your adrenaline production will speed up too. Then again, that rotating riff bliss is the song’s magnetizing motor, and his captivating, carefree vocality completes this solid gold gem of a tune. Bingo.
Artists: PARTY DOZEN Who: Australian duo featuring saxophonist Kirsty Tickle and
percussionist Jonathan Boulet. They have released 4 albums
so far. You can discover them via Spotify.
Band: DOWN THE LEES Who: The post-rock noise project of seasoned Canadian
singer/songwriter/guitarist Laura Lee Schultz. DTL released
3 notable albums, so far.
The first taster from the film. A song that
deals with the isolation and depression of
the pandemic.
TUTV: A characteristic Down The Lees thunderstorm cranked up by blustery bass lines, monstrous guitar riffs, Herculean drumming, Schultz‘s sky-scraping vocals and a volcanic finale. My oh my. One of the best noiz rock bands around. Fact!
“It’s about noticing how quickly we get entrapped online into spending money, and spending
the latest form of currency, our attention, and questioning how to break away from it. It’s about how horrifying excess is.
The fictitious shop, Tamoo, which looks like it should come with a gamblers aware warning sign, stocks everything you’ve never wanted, and it’s not just your money it will cost you being there.”
Single artwork
TUTV: The Baby Seals strike with high-powered Black Sabbath-esque thwacks on this
hellish haymaker, bucked up with eldritch guitar flashes and a slam-bang chorus. If
you’re addicted to spending money, give it all to these ear-poppping punkettes so they
can spend all that money on recording new exciting music like this. Yep, a win-win.
First single from their forthcoming 4th full-length, their
first in 4 years, slated for release in September 2026.
Press info: A song which tells the tragic story of the loss of frontman Scott Marsden‘s
uncle Tony, who sadly drowned as a child in Cyprus. It was a story Scott was told from
a very young age, staying with him his whole life, creating a fear of the water.
How living on a small Island surrounded by the sea created an anxiety he never really understood growing up. How for decades the tragedy affected the whole family with trauma and struggles with addiction which tore the family apart.
TUTV: Holy Coves are back and they don’t waste time. It’s full steam ahead from
the get-go. Eager guitars and sinewy drumming inject this sweltering steamroller with
a flaming briskness that causes a kinetic reverberation, while Marsden emotive vocals accentuate the song’s sad sentiments. His everlasting heart-and-soul distress leads
to this astonishing piece of sonic catharsis. What an impressive return.
TUTV: A raging blast of an uppercut, pro-welcoming refugees and anti-super rich
who despise the common people. Raw and rough like powerhouse proto-punks The Stooges.
Band: KNEECAP Who: Belfast‘s sharp-mouthed, notorious rap team KNEECAP – Mo Chara,
Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí – hip and hop around with a knife between
their teeth since 2017. So far, they have 2 LPs on their résumé.
For the past months, the spotlight wasn’t really on their music
but more on their problems with some governments for their
support for Palestine on and off stage.
Member Mo Chara got charged for allegedly displaying a flag
in support of Hezbollah one year ago. After a long trial, he was
acquitted of all claims against him.
In the aftermath, they dropped this new chant, called NO COMMENT featuring renowned British DJ Sub Focus.
Kneecap: ‘No Comment’ is all about getting harassed by the British state.
Simple as. Us Irish are well used to it, been happening for centuries. Was
a pleasure to work with Sub Focus on this, the man is a legend.”
A song about being caught
between two life chapters.
TUTV: The Middle has that rotating rock vibe of Run Run Run by proto-punk
legends The Velvet Underground, but with even more garage buzz, straight
from a smelly basement somewhere in Stockholm. The rattling beat goes
on and on and on.
On top come anxious vocals that add a barbed edge
to this jagged jam. A bang-on debut. Don’t miss it.
TUTV: Dramatically disturbing sentiments are bottled here in this titanic juggernaut
of a song, where 80s/90s Gothwave guitar lines connect with modern-day psych-rock kingpins such as Interpol and The Strokes. We should never ever stop screaming about murderous conflicts. That’s exactly what Customs do here in sonic capitals. STOP THE KILLING.
The fierce frustration embedded in this outburst is a universal, final warning.
It’s also one of the, unfortunately, too many scary songs we posted lately in
our daily wake-up call series.
The accompanying video is a series of photos and footage that shows the
devastating horror caused by today’s inhuman war-greedy world leaders.
Band: REFLECT Who: Young indie rockers from Belfast, Ireland.
The name ‘Ocnus‘ comes from an allegorical deity in Greek
mythology personifying hesitation, delay and the wasting
of time, harking back to their debut.
TUTV: Be ready to get on Reflect‘s new soul-stirring rollercoaster, going back and forth.
Its unbridled rock and pop brio has a whopping sonic boom imprint, and the splendacious vocal performance stands out right in the middle. Think Florence + The Machine turning up the heat. Gee-whizz feat.
‘’Empathology’ is half about wanting to feel the pain of everyone around you
so they don’t have to, and half wanting to share it with them, grow closer and
connect on a deeper level. I’ve created my own subject, Empathology: the study
of empathy’.
TUTV: Empathology is a chilling, torch-burning grunge jam propelled
with jarring guitars, brawny percussion and Chelsea Andrews‘s transfixing
vocals. Empathy can lead to a connecting nirvana experience.
Artist: USI ES Who: The musical moniker of Belgian singer-songwriter Ester Weemaes. In her attic studio, she interweaves synths and samples with her distinctive, dark voice. Her music balances between darkness and dreaminess, feeling like a blanket wrapped around you: soft yet heavy, with frayed edges. She released her debut EP Mutiny.
2nd single from her upcoming debut album, expected to
be released early 2026, on which she worked again with
her coach, mentor, and mixer Dijf Sanders.
“I see it as one of the signature Usi ES songs, in a coming-of-age jacket.”
TUTV: Imagine Kate Bush and Goth queen Chelsea Wolfe doing a slo-mo duet in
a twilight universe where surreality and reality meet. Spellbinding, mysterious,
and entrancing. Dim the lights, sit down, relax, and let your thoughts run free.
Verstegen: “The inspiration for this track came when I was looking at a box of matches
and suddenly realized that every romantic “match” is actually a bit like a real matchstick.
You only get one chance to make it ignite. Some go out quickly, others need a bit of oxygen
and sometimes you can spark a fire that will keep you warm for the rest of your life.
“Matches” is the first release from my upcoming debut album, and for it, we drew some inspiration from artists such as Bon Iver, Ben Howard, Phoebe Bridgers, Marble Sounds,
and others.”
TUTV: Matches feels like a sonic match right away. It’s a heart-and-soul touching
reflection with a feverish drive. Near-whispering vocals and enthralling harmonies
star up front, causing goosebumps. Think Bon Iver, Ed Harcourt, and other transfixing voices.
Verstegen sounds like being around for a long time. His enwrapping story-telling
and evocative singing is top-tier and a real revelation. Don’t miss this notable debut.
Artists: MOON MOTHER Who: MM is the voice echoing through a starless night, music born from darkness, yet always carrying a glimmer of light. From the rural landscapes of western Sweden, the duo has built an architecture of earthy, alternative slow rock and melancholic, atmospheric folk with a Nordic touch. A sound they call månrock.
It captures the feeling of standing outside the world through a heavy
acoustic lament, where fragility slowly breaks through the darkness.
Single artwork
TUTV: Intimate piano soulfulness, emotive vocals, and at times grand orchestral
arrangements combine for a mystical-like ambiance. Both transmundane and melodramatic. Moon Mother‘s musical world triggers surreal sentiments in our
grim reality on this mesmerizing trip.
Artist: MAVIS STAPLES Who: Legendary soul/blues/rock voice who, along with family, had a long and
greatly accomplished career under the name ofThe Staple Singers (1948-1994).
She’s 86 now, singing and swinging like a 36-year-old.
Band:HOLY COVES Who: Welsh rockers, fronted by singer-songwriter Scott Marsden, with 3 albums on their résumé and
#4 in the pipeline.
Track: FALLING DOWN
First single from their forthcoming 4th full-length, their
first in 4 years, slated for release in September 2026.
Press info: A song which tells the tragic story of the loss of frontman Scott Marsden‘s
uncle Tony, who sadly drowned as a child in Cyprus. It was a story Scott was told from
a very young age staying with him his whole life, creating a fear of the water.
How living on a small Island surrounded by the sea created an anxiety he never really understood growing up. How for decades the tragedy affected the whole family with trauma and struggles with addiction which tore the family apart.
Single artwork
TUTV: Holy Coves are back and they don’t waste time. It’s full steam ahead from
the get-go. Eager guitars and sinewy drumming inject this sweltering steamroller with
a flaming briskness that causes a kinetic reverberation, while Marsden emotive vocals accentuate the song’s sad sentiments. His everlasting heart-and-soul distress leads
to this astonishing piece of sonic catharsis. What an impressive return.
Last year, passionate Welsh indie rockers HOLY COVES released one
of the best LPs to Turn Up The Volume‘s ears with their 3rd one, titled DRUIDS AND BARDS. You can stream it below on Spotify.
“A striking work of top-notch tunes that get under your skin slowly but surely until you
see/hear the whole picture and realize that this is one of the most gripping albums of 2022, definitely in my book. Spiritually, the record is inspired by Welsh ancient history and will have two sequels in the future. Musically it’s pure indie guitar pop/rock delivered with panache, determination and love with the songs author’s voice as the zealous force in the middle”
One of the standout tracks and new single – the 4th in
a series of 5 – on the record is openerAWAY WE GO.
A solid gold anthem with a titanic vocal chorus.
The band now just shared a brand-new video for
it that looks like a tribute to their beloved island.
“It’s a real look into life on Holy Island, Anglesey!”
It was created by award winning Ukrainian filmmaker Taras Merenkov and filmed by Jason Griffith.
Welsh rock trio HOLY COVES fronted by passionate songsmith Scott Marsden
released one of the top albums of 2022 with third longplayerDruids And Bards.
A swirling work of top-notch tunes you go back to,
again and again, once you heard it for the first time.
To keep the momentum going they just released another video for one of
the album’s tracks. The 3rd in a series of 5, following clips for The Hurt Within
and Desert Storm. Check them via the band’s YouTube Channel.
Vid number 3 is for guitar-shiny diamond GREY, also created by award winning Ukrainian Filmmaker Taras Merenkov. His hazy cinematic style of direction really emphasizes the music and makes a formidable visual.
1. ‘Twitchin’ in The Kitchen’ byWARMDUSCHER (London)
This punky-funky disco corker is the perfect pick-me-up tune for all the wacky
weirdos who are always in the kitchen at parties waiting for free drinks and waiting
for Warmduscher to come in and kick their lazy asses. Big stroke, big chorus, big fun!
The Scottish dance-funk-punk trio YOUNG FATHERS launch
their 5th LP called HEAVY HEAVY on 3 February.
Ahead of hit came this ridiculously sticky stunner I SAW.
A master blaster that makes your blood stream faster
through your veins. The addition of a choir in the back
works on the spot.
This London post-punk team unleashed their 2nd scorching album Beware Believers, last April. One of TUTV’s best full-lengths of 2022.
Slowly Separate is a schizo sonic serpent generating a mind-blowing backwash
while chainsaw guitars turn up the decibels to an illegal peak, and vox-in-the-middle James Fox rages and blazes through his teeth.
The by now legendary passion rockers from Cincinnati, Ohio with mastermind Greg Dulli leading the troops. Their new 10th LP How Do You Burn? was voted Best Album Of 2022 on Turn Up The Volume.
I’ll Make You See God was the lead single. A sturdy steamroller, a red-hot-heated juggernaut, an unstoppable cannonball going everywhere fast. Manic blitzkrieg
guitars, ruthless drum/bass attacks, Greg Dulli‘s rush of blood vocality, and a brutal
finish. Flabbergasting.
Dulli: “That’s one of the hardest rock songs we’ve ever done.
It was written and performed on sheer adrenalin.”
This frenetic Brit force hit big time with their dazzling
debut album The Great Regression last March.
Single I Am Kate Moss is a cast-iron brainbreaker. It’s a poignant, biting, and
anxious uppercut. I’m pretty sure Moss would love this hit-and-run drone when
it would hit her ears. She is, after all, the Femme Punk Fatale of fashion.
The Prophet progresses like a vicious viper sliding to its prey until a horrific explosion strikes you in the face. Next is a titanic bass riff that keeps the roller coaster turning with scary speed. This flabbergasting monster is part of their 2nd notable longplayer Trust No Leaders.
About: “As a story or metaphor, we are all ‘Frankenstein’s monster’ – made up of
other people’s opinions and parts that don’t belong to us. That we were born
perfect but people, in their own conditioning, come along and can make us feel
undesirable/inadequate/the monster. But we can choose to be real instead.”
This is without a shadow the best debut single of 2022.
A towering tune going low, high and back. A sickly sticky pop gem wrapped in
a big-boisterous wall-of-sound. And up front, Sianna Lafferty‘s phenomenal voice
causes goosebumps when she reaches for the sky on the chorus. The ardency of Porridge Radio comes to mind.
“I am not what you want me to be
Uncle Sam won’t even point at me
Even the eyes of the Virgin Mary wall
hanging won’t even stare at me.”
Kill Me Again, one of three pieces shared so far, is an infectious groove
propelled by a pounding synth/bass riff, spiced with Coxon on saxophone
and mesmerizing (duet) vocals. Splendid stuff. Bring on the LP.
This power pop sensation impressed big time with their self-titled debut album. The outstanding dingle Chaise Longue – catchy, funny and witty caused choirs of thousands of sing-along people at festivals this past summer as I experienced myself, not at Glastonbury (below), but in Belgium at Hear!Hear! fest.
After releasing her sterling debut LP last year, songstress Ilayda Cicek and her band
came back this year for a series of riveting concerts (I saw 5 of them) and this sublime single. Her passion, her vivaciousness and vocal fervency push this electrifying pearl
way up to the stars.
Where We Sleep is the alter ego of Beth Rettig,
former front force of electro-rock band Blindness
On this boiling groover Rethig rants non-stop with anger and frustration.
A nasty bass riff is the backbone here, while layers of menacing guitar
electricity augment this ripper’s rowdy roll.
A crystal clear statement, a menacing projectile.
“They Don’t Want The Truth / They Just Want The Power”
12. ‘Nothing Good Comes Easy’ by DEAD LEVEE (Canada)
What a wowzer! This uplifting motherrocker boosts your state of mind with
fired-up dynamism from the get-go. Rapid-fire rawk and roll riffs switch on
a fervent feel of euphoria. It did it in the past, it does it in the present and
it will do it in the future.
Despite all the BS we have to endure (pandemic, Ukraine, natural disasters,
and other threats) it’s never too late to get back on track and why not start
with 4 and a half minutes of heart-warming guitar-fueled boogie-woogie
that triggers hope and assurance.
Stoogefather IGGY POP still wants to be your dog.
He has his new – 19th – LP, named Every Loser
lands out next week, on 6 January.
Lead-single was the perfect harbinger. A motherfucker of a punk bomb
featuring an all-star band including Watt, Guns N’ Roses‘ Duff McKagan
and Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Chad Smith.
I’m in a frenzy
Fucking prick
I’m in a frenzy
Goddamn dick
It’s been two years since these Scottish hound dogs made
my speakers tremble with their furious Johnny single.
But on their steamy comeback stomper they still have the same barnstorming groove and move drive. Something Good is a nasty rip-roaring-riff jackhammer,
annex agitated vocals, rotating in your head in an ear-blink. Think NYC’s darlings Interpol playing The Fall. Something good? Way better, something ace!
Geordie Greep (vocalist, guitar): “Almost everything I write is from a true thing, something
I experienced and exaggerated and wrote down. I don’t believe in Hell, but all that old world folly is great for songs, I’ve always loved movies and anything else with a depiction of Hell.”
A screwy zig-zagging haymaker it is.
From their head-spinning 3rd LP Hellfire.
“A paean to taking your foot off the gas and letting things slide, or a warning of the perils of procrastination, perhaps? It’s hard to tell whether ‘Mañana’ is meant to serve as a confessional regarding Domestic’s own perceived lack of willpower, or a celebration of idleness. It could be either of these things; and that’s one of its many joys.”.
A sirens intro, David Bowie‘s saxophone, and steel drums straight from Trinidad. Sounds like an exotic swing and shake ditty is coming up. No folks, it’s a lazy rap-sody you can play the morning after a booze marathon to get up and sober up, slowly.
Soul voice Clare Gillet takes care of the chirpy chorus.
These Welshmen released their new excellent album Druids and Bards
displaying mastermind Scott Marsden high-quality songwriting.
This impassioned hard-luck story is my fav cut. It grows slowly but surely into a soul-stirring and mesmerising heartbreaker with an epic finale. Glowing guitars, a steady drumbeat, and mixed-emotions vocals all come together for a poignant performance.
‘Love Is Cruel / The Hurt Within’. You can feel it.
This wholly charismatic and fast up-and-coming darkwave duo mixes Gothic Depeche Mode beats, with sonic Human League echoes, bass-synth-riffs à la German legends D.A.F. and spice it all up with spooky vocals. And it looks like 2023 will even be bigger than 2022.
After their eponymous bonkers debut EP (2020) followed by some staggering singles,
the high-decibels tandem nail it with another sucker punch. Leader is a funk-punk riff ripsnorter that kicks forth and back before a freakish guitar outbreak slashes and
trashes its way to the end.
Watch out for the pigman,
he looks like a meme in disguise.
“It’s a warning, an unflinching assessment of the vastness and insignificance of this
life, is precisely counterbalanced by their lesson, which models the resilience that this understanding demands. ‘Demolition Row’ is persistent, concise, and alarmingly physical.”
This blustery belter is vintage Metz. Full blast ahead. The track
featured on a split 7” with London-based group Adult Life.
From Dylan’s Desolation Row
to Metz’s Demolition Row…
Once I learned that this startling belter is about the horrible exploitation of human
beings by ferocious money sharks this jagged jackhammer blew my mind even harder than I heard it the first time before knowing about the band’s inspiration for this slam.
Expect rabid guitars, doom-and-gloom vocals, and frantic
twists and turns until the chaotic finale. Post-punk at
its razorblade best.
Jeen: “It’s about letting yourself drift in the flow of everything and hanging on as hard as you can to what makes the shitty parts more tolerable…I was thinking of that Hunter S. Thompson quote, “buy the ticket, take the ride.” It was written in April 2021, which was a rough part of last year for me. I needed to write something that reminded me to tread lightly, to forget about the heaviness of everything.
After only one spin, my ears told me that Chemical Emotion is an bewitching pop doozy. Jeen‘s emotive voice bewitches right away, the mid-tempo cadence emphasizes the meditative reflection perfectly, the compelling chorus brings Alanis Morissette to mind, and overall the orchestral sonority and the layered harmonies lead to a thrilling triumph.
Oscar Mic wrote this song after witnessing the horrific violence of
psycho Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine on the news. All proceeds of
the song weent to Save The Children’s Ukraine Appeal.
We Are Ukrainian is a vivid hp-rap-pop anthem featuring steel drums
and timpani balancing somewhere between Roots Manuva and Mr. Scruff.
“Fleeing people running scared, so tell me Where’s the justice? Our leaders say they care,
tell me can you trust this? Urban warfare, your home’s done and dusted, Aiming at the
public, they wouldn’t? They just did,”
HOLY COVES are a must-hear-and-know Welsh indie rock trio fronted by passionate singer-songwriter Scott Marsden. They released their new, third longplayer Druids
and Bards last month. A striking work of top-notch tunes that get under your skin
slowly but surely until you see/hear the whole picture and realize that this is one of
the most gripping albums of 2022, definitely in my book.
Spiritually, the record is inspired by Welsh ancient history and will have two sequels in
the future. Musically it’s pure indie guitar pop/rock delivered with panache, determination and love with the songs author’s voice as the zealous force in the middle and taking time now to have a chat with Turn Up The Volume.
As usual, we start an interview with a piece of music. Open your ears and eyes for
one of the Druids and Bards album’s standout tracks. Here comes Desert Storm…
When and how did HOLY COVES start their musical journey?
“I started making music with my band The Lizzies back in 2005. It wasn’t until 2009
I decided to form Holy Coves. I had been working with Welsh producer David Wrench
with The Lizzies so we decided to carry on working together with Holy Coves. It just
clicked from the start. We made two records together in 2009 and 2012.
Myself and Holy Coves bass player & guitarist Jason Hughes continued the projects
with David. That’s how it all began, we both learned so much from David. It was such
an amazing experience. We were lucky enough to get to make both records at former recording studio Bryn Derwen in Bethesda, Snowdonia.
It was a magical place which I’ll never forget. It was run by my good friend Laurie
Gane who now runs Penhesgyn Hall Studio in Menai Bridge, Isle of Anglesey.”
Who came up with the band’s name and what’s the story behind it?
“Myself and Jason came up with the name while recording our debut album in the studio. We’re both from Holy Island which is an Island of the Isle of Anglesey. We wanted to find something that fit the word Holy that explained where the music was from. We always had a problem with the thought of Holyhead being known as a Holy Island! At the time we felt very disconnected to the Island.
We didn’t think it was Holy at all. The coves were from an old Cockney slang book We had with us. Coves is slang for geezers or criminals so we liked the irony of having the Holy before that word. Coves was the perfect word because of all the beautiful beaches and
the hidden double meaning. As soon as we found it, it all made sense. Holy Coves was
born that day.”
You’re an indie DIY trio. What does that really mean in reality?
“We’re much more that that! We’re a trio live but in the studio we’re more
like a five. Myself (Vocals, Guitar) Jason Hughes (Bass, Guitar, Synths, Vocals)
and Jonathan De Marco (Drums) handle everything live and in the studio too.
But when we record we also work with our co-producers John Lawrence & Owain
Ginsberg. They have become a part of Holy Coves too and will be making the second
and third part of the ‘Druids and Bards’ trilogy with us.
Part 2 ‘Hiraeth’ will be recorded early next year. Part 3 ‘Gogs‘ will be recorded
the year after. We’re a team, we’ve all become very good friends. They’re all
a pleasure to work with.”
Which of your songs would you pick to introduce
HOLY COVES to people who never heard of you?
“It’s a tough question. I’d say Grey but if I could I’d pick a few more too!”
. New excellent album DRUIDS AND BARDS came out a month ago?
Where does the title comes from and is there a big picture to the
record or stand all songs on their own?
“Thank you, that’s very kind. The title comes from the Welsh side of my family.
My great, great Grandfather was William Richard Roberts, (Gwilym Dona, which
is his bardic name) he was a Bard and Welsh poet who won a chair at the Eisteddfod.
I grew up with fable tales of Welsh witches, Druids and Bards when I was younger.
Like I said before, Druids and Bards is a trilogy. It’s a big story which
I could only really tell properly over three records. There’s definitely
a big picture to it all.”
Did you listen to records of other artists to inspire
you during the writing process and recording?
“Every single band/artist I’ve ever listened to
my whole life has influenced this record.”
Who created the LP’s artwork and does it say something about the album itself?
“Jon Safari made it. The picture of the house was from the so called ‘Haunted House‘!! ( Craig y Môr ) in Trearddur Bay, Holy Island, where I live. Its very important to the ‘Druids and Bards’ story. It’s the beginning of the story.”
The first of the three singles THE HURT WITHIN
is my favorite? What is the song about?
“It’s about the scars of a heavy breakup. Its a dark love song.
I was hurting for a long time before writing this. I’m over
it now, life has moved on for us all.”
Suppose your album was a movie,
which one would it be?
“My favourite movie of all time is Goodfellas.
I love the soundtrack on that.”
What’s a HOLY COVES gig like?
“You will be able to see this for yourself next year. Trust me when
I say we’re taking it to a whole new level. I can’t wait to get back out
there next year.”
Slowly but surely 2022 is nearing its end. What’s the best
track and album you heard so far?
“The Heavy North album is brilliant. Dictator are a band which
excite me with each release, their EP is fun and brilliant.
Fellow Anglesey singer- songwriter Megan Wyn has phenomenal talent for her age
and her latest single is brilliant. Hatzmat from Wrexham & The Pastimes from Rhyl
have both released fantastic music this year.
Maybe ask me this again at the end of the year. I’ve heard a lot of great music
this year. I’ll be listening right up until the very end of the year and then I’ll decide. ”
Name 3 things you really want to happen in 2023
“I want to record part two in February/ March, play live shows too.
We will be very busy next year creating and playing gigs across the
United Kingdom. The third thing I’m going to keep private.”
Thank you very much, Scott for this interview.
Have a great Xmas and New Year’s Eve.
May the road rise with Holy Coves.
.
All songs written by: Scott Marsden
Lyrics by: Scott Marsden
Produced by: Scott Marsden & John Lawrence
Engineered by: John Lawrence
Mixed and Mastered by: Erik Wofford (Bill Callaghan / The Black Angels)
Art Work & Album Cover by : Jon Safari
Band photos by Dai Eastwood
New single: DESERT STORM
Second single from upcoming album Druids and Bards,
following the excellent previous one The Hurt Within.
Turn Up The Volume: Desert Storm is a psychedelic thrill with
the hypnotizing and repetitive dynamism of Krautrock. Its vibrant
vigor and steadfast swagger rolls all the way, from start to finish.
Pounding drums push the track continuously, guitars glimmer, and
febrile vocals add a shadowy timbre. We have a winner here.
Were coming up don’t fight the feeling
Let’s ride the storm
Were coming up don’t fight the feeling
It’s the desert storm
Turn Up The Volume wrote: “This impassioned hard-luck story grows slowly but surely
into a soul-stirring and mesmerising heartbreaker with an epic finale. Glowing guitars, a
steady drumbeat, and mixed emotions vocals all come together for a poignant performance. ‘Love Is Cruel / The Hurt Within’. You can feel it.”
To visualise the song Holy Coves engaged acclaimed Ukrainian animator and filmmaker Taras Merenkov. He really pulled off an animated tour de force. A visual masterstroke.
