A new name for 2024, Manchester crew Alchemize have only released a handful of singles, but have already gained very positive praise from some rather major outlets. They’ve been officially playlisted by Spotify, Tidal and Apple Music, and already been championed by BBC Radio 1.
Author Archives: Real Gone
JOE GENI – Cities Built Upon Cities
When a promotional blurb suggests an artist is influenced by music as diverse as The Police, DJ Shadow and Claude Debussy, it’s hard to know what to expect. Is this record label hype? Is it a case of a performer clutching at straws, hoping that something will attract the potential listener? When it comes to singer songwriter Joe Geni, such wild claims…really aren’t so wild. His 2021 album ‘Doggerland’ offers a mad hybrid sound where the mood lurches all over the place. Just exploring the track ‘Superbloom’ in isolation, Geni takes the light Afro rhythms of Peter Gabriel tunes like ‘Mercy Street’ and fuses them with a bit of electronica, then adds a huge vocal that occasionally sounds like something David MacAlmont would turn into an absolute showstopper. Then, there’s the lengthy ‘Eyes Like The Ocean’ which bends what would’ve been a great pop-rock sound – akin to a moody deep cut from Sting – and adorns that with an almost trip-hop like atmosphere.
CHEN FIRSEL – Believe In The Ending Of The War EP
Chen Firsel’s ‘Believe In The Ending of The War’ is more than just an EP. It’s a three track “song cycle” that sends a message to the world, straight from the heart of Israel.
Watch: Healthy Junkies return with career defining track ‘Dead Souls’
In the summer of 2024, cult rock band Healthy Junkies shared their ‘Favourite Place’ single which touted them as an energy driven garage rock band. The single’s mix of rock, punk ‘n’ roll and accented vocals served up a track with not only a distinctive sound, but a number which sounded like it would translate brilliantly in the band’s live set.
Their eagerly awaited follow up, ‘Dead Souls’ could not be more different. There are moments where the vocal makes it very clear that this is still the work of the same band, but musically, it’s far richer. More mature, even.
Watch: New arrivals on the doom scene, Barren unleash ‘Unheard’
Barren, a doomy metal band from New Jersey formed during the global pandemic of 2020. Over the next few years, they slowly cultivated a heavy sound that, although classic, also shares a very deeply atmospheric feel.