Asylum Road closed their 2025 with a very uncompromising single, ‘Mask of Oblivion’. The track’s mix of metalcore and hardcore with a pinch of death metal darkness left nothing to chance in terms of overall heaviness.
Tag Archives: northern ireland
THE REAL GONE SINGLES BAR #130
Welcome back to the Real Gone Singles Bar, the place where we explore some of the more interesting individual tracks that have landed in our inbox over the past few weeks. This time around, we bring you a fantastic number from a British alt-folk band, the return of some cosmic, psychy legends, a great piece of synth based material, some well crafted pop punk…and more. As always, we hope you find something new to enjoy!
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HARD TO EXPLAIN – Hell To Pay
Northern Ireland’s Hard To Explain emerged in a post-lockdown world, and before long, began what was to become a run of impressive single releases. ‘Hell To Pay’, the band’s debut album (released at the tail end of 2025) makes good on all of the band’s early promise, sharing a collection of varied and hard edged tracks that showcase strong vocals, thoughful lyrical themes, and – above all – a succession of massive riffs.
MYRIAD THINGS – Sanctuary EP
In 2022, Myriad Things released two very strong but very different singles. ‘Let It Come Down’ set up an immediate groove, working a funk infused rhythm and bluesy guitar tone. With a heavier riff punctuating the verses, it was a track that was absolutely loaded with swagger. A couple of months later ‘10,000 Years Away’ presented their more melodic side, with a number that introduced a little prog/post rock guitar work which, combined with a wall of funky bass lines and soaring vocals suggested this was a band who could also feel very comfortable working with something a little more atmospheric. Having set themselves up a band to watch out for in the near future, they then didn’t actually release any more new material for three years.
VARIOUS ARTISTS – Shellshock Rock: Alternative Blasts From Northern Ireland 1977-1984
From the team that brought the world the fantastic ‘Big Gold Dreams’, a lavish box set exploring the corners of alternative music from Scotland, ‘Shellshock Rock’ provides a similarly loving look back at the punk and post-punk sounds emerging from Northern Ireland during the late 70s and early 80s.