When Gramma Vedetta released their ‘Proof of Concept’ EP in 2018, the world was a very different place. Their punchy blues/garage/stoner metal hybrid sound was squarely about entertainment. After recording began on a follow up, a global pandemic forced everything into shutdown and – like everyone else – the band found themselves with a different set of priorities. The planned album became a stop-gap EP and the lockdown situation also gave them lyric inspiration, so, in many ways, their 2020 release ended up being a very different beast.
Listen: UK prog band The Tangent release first single from upcoming album
UK prog band The Tangent will release their eleventh album ‘Auto Reconnaisance’ in August. For those who can’t wait to hear the whole thing from start to finish, the band have shared the audio for ‘Life On Hold’, a relatively short and really punchy track that showcases the band’s more chorus driven material.
Brendan Benson shares new video for ‘Dear Life’ and announces new “live stream” series
Power pop legend Brendan Benson released his seventh solo album ‘Dear Life’ in April 2020. A record that finds the singer songwriter exploring more of his beloved 70s inspired sounds, it’s title track feels especially retro with 10cc styled melodies cutting through everything and a heavy use of bass drum.
Brendan has created the perfect video for the song, with visuals that show him wandering around his home studio and playing various instruments. There’s something about it that actually recalls earlier promo clips by the legendary Paul McCartney and Jeff Lynne, so it appears very apt for Benson’s lovingly retro sound.
Watch: Thundermother unveil new video for ‘Sleep’
Often known for their no nonsense Motorhead meets AC/DC meets Girlschool style and for their energetic live sets, the new single from Scandinavian rockers Thundermother finds the band in a more reflective mood.
Watch: Sven Gali return with a new video, ‘Now’
Twenty five years on from their second LP ‘Inwire’, hard rockers Sven Gali returned in June 2020 with their third release, the appropriately titled ‘3’. With four riff-heavy tracks that take the bones of their earlier sound and potentially make it heavier, the new EP is a fantastic listen for anyone who enjoys a heavy sound with melodic roots.