Welcome back to the Real Gone Singles Bar, the place where we explore some of the more interesting tracks that have been submitted over the previous few weeks. This time around, there’s some perfect dream pop/indie sounds, a huge stoner friendly piece of deep psych with a heavy edge, some AOR, a superb track with a jazz influenced vocal…and more besides. As always, we hope you find something new to enjoy!
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In 2024, Graham Bonnet and his band took to the stage at the legendary Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles. On this night, the intimate venue saw the veteran performer plough through a sixteen song set that celebrated many of the highlights of his long career.
The audio from the Graham Bonnet Band’s 2025 live release ‘Lost In Hollywood Again’ might not sound quite as vital as 2017’s unexpected Alcatrazz reunion in Japan (released for posterity on ‘Parole Denied’), but it’s clear that Bonnet – a man well into his seventies at the time of this show – still loves what he does, and is more than capable of summoning a huge amount of volume at a time of life when some of his peers sound like a shadow of their former selves.
Afternoon Astronauts is a relatively new name for 2025, but ahead of the release of their debut album, their single ‘Times Like These’ suggests that the band are about to click with an audience of melodic, heavy riff lovers in a rather big way.
With its huge piano chords underscored by a tinkling synth, the intro of ‘Falling’ by Spectral promises big things. Occasionally when it comes to things within the pomp and symphonic metal genres, such intros can lead to a massive disappointment, but it’s really not the case here.
In the summer of 2023, Dutch metal band Rise of The Wood released the ‘Sleep’ EP, an excellent three tracker that signified their long overdue return, but also a rebirth. Their first new music in six years, ‘Sleep’ was also the first Rise release to feature vocalist Leo Gstrein. His confident tones immediately outshone any of the work on the band’s 2017 debut and the music sounded much better all round. This suggested that band’s decision to take time out to regroup had been more than beneficial.