Becoming The Lion was originally conceived as an instrumental vehicle for one man’s musical talents. That man, Ross Blomgren self-released ‘Ghosts of a Fallen Soldier’ in 2010. A recording which explored various post-rock and alternative-based moods, it showed off some great musical ideas, despite a few elements that gave away its low budget origins. Most of the music veered towards a solid post-rock sound, but an over-reliance on drum programming and droning keys, in the main, meant things didn’t always turn out quite as well as they could have. Over the next few years, Blomgren released further albums, often opting for a more metal oriented sound and sometimes aiming his music at more of a progressive metal loving audience; each one a step further towards the great record that Blomgren was so clearly capable of making.
Listen: Watts return with new single ‘Breaking Glass’
In October 2018, Boston rockers Watts returned with a new digital single ‘Queens’, a blast of guitar-driven goodness that added another piece of retro trashiness to their expanding legacy.
Moving into the new year, they’ve kick started 2019 by sharing another new track.
Guided By Voices to release ‘Zeppelin Over China’ in February; announce first UK show in 15 years
Lo-fi indie legends Guided By Voices are set to release their twenty seventh studio album in February 2019. Scheduled for release on the 1st of the month, the mammoth thirty two track ‘Zeppelin Over China’ will be, unbelievably, the Ohio legends’ tenth album since releasing ‘Let’s Go Eat The Factory’ in 2012.
In addition, there’s more great news for UK fans, since Robert Pollard and company have confirmed a UK visit. Since their appearance at All Tomorrow’s Parties in 2011 was cancelled, this will be the first UK GBV gig in fifteen years.
More details on the new album and gig, along with a link to a streaming track can be found in the press release below. Real Gone’s review of ‘Let’s Go Eat The Factory’ can be read here.
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ALTHEA GRACE – Dreamers EP
Experience comes with age, or so they say, but once in a while an artist emerges whose experience totally contradicts that theory. Still in her teens at the time of this EP release, singer-songwriter Althea Grace has already shared stages with The Shins and Doyle Bramhall II (the blues guitarist most famous for being sideman to both Eric Clapton and Roger Waters) and caught the attention of Sheryl Crow.
DEBT NEGLECTOR – The Kids Are Pissed EP
Orlando four piece Debt Neglector’s 2018 EP ‘The Kids Are Pissed’ constantly treads a very fine line between angst and melody to bring six tracks that are often as big on chorus hooks as they are on riffs. For those who still lament No Use For A Name’s shift into a poppier realm (and subsequently their untimely demise), or love Hateful Monday, this is a must-hear.