Bare Grillz

Com Truise. Joanna Gruesome. Ringo Deathstarr. Bare Grillz. Another band in a long line of excellent/awful pun names. But, although they may be part of a minor-trend in the name department - and indeed in terms of imagery they slot right in with the hip crowd - the Newcastle threepiece's sound isn't as typical as you might expect.

Although positively lo-fi, they avoid the shoegaze / surf / garage / chillwave / witchhouse / nightbus buzz-sounds, sometimes opting instead for a more "math" influenced sound, ala Foals circa 2007, and other times just making a noise pop guitar racket. Although that may not read particularly appealingly, Bare Grillz' songs have a desperation and a certain honesty to them - and they most certainly get a thumbs up here.


Bare Grillz - Lee Majors


Bare Grillz - Robert Pattinson Foot Tattoo


Bare Grillz - They Hang Tight But They Might Fall

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Bewilder

It's increasingly difficult to make truly original music, as more and more potential artistic avenues are explored by different bands and movements as years pass. A band stumbling upon an entirely unique sound would obviously be welcome, but when bands such as Bewilder come along with excellent nods to and twists of sounds from the past they are equally as welcomed.

Merging math-y guitar tap-and-slide guitar lines with a post-rock chilled out vibe, and sucking all the potential pretense out of both the sometimes-pretentious genres along the way, the Southampton band stumbled upon a sound that is actually somewhat their own on their 6-track This Isn't Life, It's Just Stuff EP release through excellent south-west label Art Is Hard. Topped off with calming vocal work, deft drum patterns and the odd bit of electronic and glockenspiel toe-dipping, this is a release truly to be enjoyed - especially given that it is housed in beautiful looking hand-made envelopes and accompanied by a band-made zine.

Order the EP from Art Is Hard's bigcartel site and it'll be sent on its release date of June 20, or download the entire thing for free from bandcamp now. Oh, and did I mention it has a whole song pretty much dedicated to Dwight from The Office?

Bewilder - I'm A Kid, That's My Job


Bewilder - Hard Working, Alpha Male, Jackhammer

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Gallops: New Single

Wrexham-based electro post-rock four-piece Gallops have stuck their upcoming single, due to be released through Holy Roar and Blood and Biscuits on May 23, up onto bandcamp for streaming.

Their self-titled debut EP was good (read me waxing lyrical about it over on The 405 here) but this new material could be another step up for the band. Listen below.


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