Tag Archives: rock

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Swedish noisy rock band Lex Maria releases new EP ‘Ghosts’!

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New EP “Ghosts” from alt punkrockers Lex Maria is available on all streaming platforms. This is the band’s second EP recorded at the indie favorite Studio Möllan in Malmö, Sweden.

Lex Maria is a band that hails from the famous bathing resort Malmö, located in Southern Sweden. Lex Maria plays cat image influenced, sexually frustrated alternative rock. Noisy rock and alternative rock of the late 80s and 90s is what they grew up with and have always been present in their music.

“After getting our PhDs and then working the hamburger joints around town , we decided to risk our dazzling careers and sell our souls to the bewinged kitten demons of Rock.“, says the band.

The band has been around for a couple of years and the latest constellation got together in 2020 and immediately set out to record. The same year the first EP was recorded and released in 2021. The following year the “Ghosts” EP was recorded and released in 2023.

Who are the band?

“We say we are an indie punk band playing some sort of alternative rock but we float in and out of these genres. We are 90s noise, 80s post punk and some 00s emo in our own way. Aleks, Nelly, Martin and Martin. Aleks with the hat is the singer. Aleks and Nelly play guitar, the Martins play bass and drums. Many times life is hard and we just want to play because that makes you feel better and we hope to reach people out there who like this stuff.” – says Lex Maria.

Listening to “Ghosts” EP: https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/album/1BqrbnXpv7eQRcjfQyTJjV

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NYC artist GUITARMY OF ONE presents retro sci-fi inspired ‘Soylent Seafoam Green’ ahead of ‘The Wave Files’ LP!

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Guitarmy of One presents his latest adventurous offering ‘Soylent Seafoam Green’, the third single from his forthcoming crowdfunded album ‘The Wave Files’. With the title and mood inspired by the 1970s cult sci-fi movie ‘Soylent Green’, this song mixes dark ominous guitar riffing with surf guitar swells and foreboding reverb drenched melodies.

This is surf rock with a gothic edge from guitarist Scott Helland, an ex-hardcore punk bass player turned instrumental songwriter, whose first band (Deep Wound) was formed with alt-rock trailblazers J Mascis and Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr). He would later join hardcore/ crossover thrash stalwarts Outpatients, School of Violence and Darkside NYC before ultimately forming post-punk duo Frenchy and the Punk in 2005.

This solo project combines the thrilling sounds of spy-themed instrumental surf guitar music with punk vitality. Taking listeners on a sonic adventure to the realms of intrigue, danger and surf-soaked excitement, Helland channels that raw and unconventional spirit into a quirky fusion of genres.

‘Soylent Seafoam Green’ is in keeping with my blend of the spy and surf sound and is quite dark for a surf song. However, it fits the theme of the 1973 dystopian thriller film ‘Soylent Green’ of which the song’s title is based, but don’t worry, listening to the song repeatedly won’t lead to cannibalism!” says Scott Helland.

Earlier, Guitarmy of One released ‘Kolchak meets the Sea Mobster’, with a Spanish guitar-influenced twist and lead track ‘Top Secret Agent Man on a Wire Tapped Phone at Sea’, along with a fun spytastic video.

This record picks up where his latest album ‘The Spy Detective Collective’ left off. Helland explains, “I wanted this album to be music you want to travel with – in your mind or physically. It’s action music, and I think it should ignite your imagination and take you on a journey. Wordless music relies on the visuals it creates so if it can take you on a sonic adventure across continents, or at least counties, my work is done. The idea for this album is rooted in spy and detective shows from the 60s, 70s and 80s. I want the music to be a sonic equivalent of those shows and movies where you’re riding the waves of intrigue and espionage so the music has to match that sense of urgency and excitement.”

As a full-fledged espionage-inspired surf rock act, Guitarmy of One takes us on a thrilling musical journey, blending the realms of instrumental guitar, surf music and the mystique of spy themes within the one person band format. Helland weaves his mysterious and generous acoustic-electric melodies over propulsive spy riffs and electro beats, layering and building patiently toward engrossing payoffs.

Influenced by Spanish guitar, punk and metal, Guitarmy of One conjures up images of secret agents, high-speed chases, and hidden agendas through his intricate layered compositions. His mix of surf guitar techniques (i.e. reverb-drenched chords, lightning-fast tremolo picking, and tremolo bar vibrato albeit with a Bigsby bridge pedal) creates a sonic landscape that is both nostalgic and forward-thinking.

As of July 26, ‘Soylent Seafoam Green’ is available across digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where the full album can already be ordered. On August 18, ‘The Wave Files’ album will be released on CD, as well as digitally.

CREDITS
Written, performed and produced by Scott Helland
All instrumentation by Scott Helland
Engineered by Jason Sarubbi Split Rock Studio, New Paltz, NY
Mastered by Jason Sarubbi
Cover Art by Nukui Bogard
Layout and Single Design Samantha Stephenson
‘Top Secret’ video filmed and fdited by Guitarmy of One
Artist photos by Samantha Stephenson

TRACK LIST
1. Top Secret Agent Man on a Wire Tapped Phone at Sea
2. Jack Lord of the Sea  
3. Kolchak meets the Sea Mobster
4. Soylent Seafoam Green
5. The Sea and the Seventh Veil of Surveillance
6. Plight of the Searchlight
7. Sea Legs Diamond
8. Espionage a Trois on the Open Sea
9. Must be the Season of Treason
10. Seance for the Saint

LIVE SHOWS
SEPT 1-3  Atlanta, GA – DragonCon 2023
OCT 7  New York, NY – Unsteady Freddie’s Surf Rock Shindig

Keep up with Guitarmy of One
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Store | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Soundcloud | TikTok | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

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Vasoline Tuner reinforced a fusion of experimental avant-garde with rock-and-roll on the album ‘Canceled Crystal Balls’!

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Vasoline Tuner is promoting the latest song/video called ‘Melted by Aliens’ from the most recent album ‘Canceled Crystal Balls’ and it is about getting abducted and melted by aliens to be used as their face cream or lube.

Vasoline Tuner is a psychedelic punk/ experimental rock/ freak pop type band from Southern California/ USA , it is the highly imaginative work of guitarist/vocalist/ songwriter BillyTsounis and has been described as the sonic equivalent to Salvador Dali’s paintings and as weird and wonderful.

The band has a crazy mix of disco music/art rock/ infectious electro punk and weird melodies with a deep bass groove, solid funky drum beat and droning guitars. Vasoline Turner is definitely a ride from outer space.

In this new interview, we talk to guitarist/vocalist/ songwriter BillyTsounis about his music inspirations, curiosities and future plans. Check it out bellow:

What can you say about this new release? 

It’s a collection of songs with an underlying theme of cosmic irreverence, lo- fi campiness and caustic surrealism all covered in a fat and trippy rock attitude.

How was the recording process of the album? 

The album was recorded here in the city of Hemet , CA by this young and super talented guy , Josiah Garcia at his home studio . We the band, Julio Guez and Austin Malik tracked live and then I did a few overdubs and the vocals . The songs ‘clouds are sexy’ and ‘Rich ladies purse’ has the drums being recorded in Nashville by my good friend Kevin Rapillo . I sent the riffs/ song to a click and he played all perfectly as he does and I did the guitars here in town . The album was actually recorded during the Plandemic period.

Where did you get the idea for the project name? 

The name of the band Vasoline Tuner originated by a friend and it was meant as an alter ego to my actual name Vasilios Tsounis and through the blender of me liking to tune guitars in specific tunings that I make up and use them in songs along with the occasional vasoline excursion. The title of the album – ‘Cancelled Crystal balls’ – it’s something that I metaphorically used in the sense of cancel culture and crystal balls supposedly looking into the future so I was getting at the future through someone else’s eyes and superstitions is cancelled . It can also be someone’s balls all crystal and non hairy and easily breakable.

If you had to pick one song, which one would you pick?

I like all of them on the album but I really like ‘Bake Baby Bake’ . It’s chaotic and spiral.

What’s your favourite band? 

I’m not sure I have a favorite band , I like a lot of bands / artists . I like Frank Zappa/ the Police/ Flaming Lips/ AC/DC/ Butthole Surfers / lots of metal , 70s disco/ Cumbia…

Who or what inspires you to write songs? 

Mostly subconsciously, I just react on moments and I like to pick apart supposed taboos or social/ culture behavior, fear , delusions. Anything, really but at some point I look for the dark or sarcastic side of things that normally don’t want to be looked at. Ugly makes it beautiful.

Whom would you like to feature with?

Like your dream collaboration? I don’t have a dream collaboration but I would enjoy writing with Kool Keith, MF Doom if he was still alive and Nile Rodgers. I’m down with any creative attempt or experience.

How is the independent and underground scene in your country?

Well, the country sure is big and I believe there is a thriving and healthy underground scene all over. There are many young and talented bands playing and trying many different styles. The fact that they can do it all or most is positive. Just the fact that they get creative and get out there and play is magic. So much good music to hear, too few hours.

What are your plans for the future? 

My plans are to continue to challenge myself artistically and keep writing and performing music that I enjoy doing. Of course I would like to play in different parts of the world and collaborate with others.

‘Melted by Aliens’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H097K3kCkw

‘Cancelled Crystal Balls’: https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/album/5e3iOm7EA7HqUnE5dgsWFd