In July 2024, Federale released ‘Reverb & Seduction’, an album of songs that took the listener on a journey via a world of dark narratives, but also presented some rich and varied musical arrangements. The most complex Federale album yet, the styles covered ranged from goth pop to cosmic country, from occasional indie jangles to a very retro singer songwriter approach with traces of Chris Isaak. It was the kind of album that, no matter where you chose to drop in. would offer the listener something interesting.
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Watch: Sunmachine reveal new video for ‘Mercy Killing’
It wasn’t too long after their formation in 2023 that British alternative rock band Sunmachine started to gain praise for their sound. Taking cues from alternative giants like Bring Me The Horizon and Linkin Park, the band’s earliest work was huge on riffs, but just as big on melody.
Watch: Ember Belladonna shares new video for ‘The Unnamed’
At the beginning of 2024, Ember Belladonna released her debut full length album ‘The Grove’. It was an undeniably smart collection of tunes, mixing elements of goth, metal and folk, showcasing great flute work. Taking the flute beyond its usual prog rock space, Ember created a musical landscape of her own: sometimes dark but without feeling oppressive, but often otherworldly. The album presented songs that had a heart that could be easily orchestrated, but often felt very different – and more distinctive – than the several hundred Nightwish clones filling the globe.
Listen: Dying Grotesque unveil new track ‘Nuclear Meadows’
Dying Grotesque might not be the most familiar name on the death metal scene, but the young Ukrainian band deliver a huge, sometimes classic, and often interesting sound on their current single ‘Nuclear Meadows’.
Listen: The Othyrs share new track ‘Nobody Knows’ ahead of album release
On their self titled debut album, The Othyrs – a band featuring members of indie band The Wolfhounds – explored a world of acoustic-based folk and pop music. On stripped down tracks like ‘Money To Burn’, the quieter musical stance provided a superb backdrop for Alice Golding’s pure vocals, whilst busier numbers like ‘Time’s No Martyr’ and ‘Wasps & Nettles’ showcased great harmonies shared between the various band members. With a couple of tracks that sounded very much like a callback to Indigo Girls’ classic self-titled disc, it was a record with an almost timeless sound.