Following the release of the ‘Ana’ single in 2023 – a track that took singer/multi-instrumentalist Matt Jatkola into hard edged power pop/Weezer-esque territory – all seemed to go rather quiet in the JATK camp. Over the previous couple of years, Matt had shared tracks fairly regularly, and even released an album ‘Shut Up and Be The Light’, but the relative silence from the beginning of 2024 might have led some people to believe that the JATK musical project was no more.
MINOT – Down & Out At The Thunderbird
Towards the end of 2025, Minot shared a brilliant 7” release featuring two unreleased tracks. It was a short listen, but the coupling of ‘Walls’ and ‘People Pleaser’ created a lo-fi yet fiery listen that acted as an effective primer for anyone unfamiliar with the band’s previous works. A year on, the full length ‘Down & Out At The Thunderbird’ captures just as much fun and fury, proving that Minot’s power isn’t especially diminished when delivered in a longer format.
CLEANBREAK – We Are The Fire
CleanBreak’s self-titled debut album came as a surprise. The teaming of metal vocalist James Durbin with members of Stryper created a very natural musical union. The Stryper guys brought a broad sense of melody to the table that Durbin’s previous solo album (Durbin’s ‘The Beast Awakens’) often lacked, and this seemed to encourage James to find a rock voice that was much more accessible. The album was loaded with old school rock thrills, drawing influence from Stryper and Dokken, even finding time on occasion to nod towards classic Dio and Glenn Hughes inspired material. It was easily James Durbin’s best work to date. It was an album that would be hard to beat, if and when a second CleanBreak release emerged.
Listen: Karman Line unveil new single ‘Come Undone’
Formed in Dubai during the 2020 pandemic, Karman Line have already been championed by various rock music outlets, including Classic Rock Magazine and online portal Loudwire. If you’ve not yet caught up with the band, their brand new single ‘Come Undone’ is the perfect place to dive in.
THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #180
This visit to the Singles Bar is big on variety. New country sounds meet with a late 50s tribute; contemporary goths take a surprisingly catchy turn, while a well loved track is redressed in a strikingly new way, and a cult act share a perfectly arranged, 90s inspired workout that’s as good an advert as any for their current retrospective disc. With the eight picks exploring a genuinely broad mix of styles and genres, we hope – as always – you find something new to enjoy.
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