Following a couple of strong releases in 2016 and 2018, Svartanatt made a long overdue return in 2023 with their single ‘Child of The Devil’. By opening with a riff that sounded like a souped up version of ‘Born To Be Wild’ meeting with a rough approximation of the early Blue Oyster Cult, the track wasn’t exactly shy in advertising the fact that the band’s music had taken on an even more retro feel than before, but with the aid of swirling organ worthy of Ken Hensley, a rousing chorus loaded with gang vocals – albeit half buried under a bluster of guitar and keys – and a strong speed driven groove, it suggested that the forthcoming album would be an absolute blast. Fans were not to be short changed.
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THE JACKLIGHTS – Final Girl EP
The Jacklights’ double A-side ‘Womanchild’/‘Underachiever’ – released in November 2022 – was a solid slice of power pop. The pair of tunes retained a garage rock/90s alternative roughness, but were far more melodic than anything that had appeared on the band’s self-titled EP from two years previously.
ARKAYIC REVOLT – Atlantis Rising EP
Arkayic Revolt first appeared on the metal scene back in 2008, but chances are you missed them the first time around. During their brief time together, the Canadian thrash metal band released an EP, a sole full length album and a single, before calling it a day in 2011.
GOAT MAJOR – Evil Eye EP
A little west of Birmingham – often said to be the birthplace of metal – their lies an entire country with an almost equally rich musical heritage in terms of rock music. In the 70s, Wales birthed the often overlooked Man, the underrated Budgie, and the should’ve been huge Lone Star. Lone Star’s second album ‘Firing On All Six’, whilst perhaps not as big as monolithic works by Deep Purple, is an easy match for any of the great material released by UFO or Uriah Heep. It’s been even less documented that the country has actually spawned a healthy stoner and doom metal scene. Spearheaded by the former Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard (later MWWB) and Dope Smoker, there are a truckload of good, heavy riff-makers filling an opulent Welsh underground in the twenty first century.
JOHN DUNBAR – What A Difference Indifference Makes
John Dunbar is a busy man. Between the beginning of 2020 and the end of 2023, he released two solo albums filled with retro pop, another two as a member of The John Sally Ride – a similar sounding pop outfit fond of humorous song titles (‘See Emily Work’, ‘Sheena Is A Prog Rocker’, ‘I Won’t Let Failure Go To My Head’) – and two more as Elvis Eno, exploring more experimental lo-fi work. Despite six albums and a bunch of one off singles appearing within a four year period, chances are, his name still isn’t familiar to you.