introvertliar – brok
The verdict
“brok deliver a stunning, brilliantly heavy slice of blues-soaked rock and roll that absolutely refuses to compromise”
'liar' lands with a weight that pins you to the spot. the riffs are thick and heavy, the groove underneath them loose enough to move but tight enough to hit, and the whole thing builds into something properly physical. there's blues running through it, twisted into something a little darker and more urgent, and the production keeps everything raw without losing any of the punch. it's rock and roll that sounds like it was made to be played loud in a room full of people who came to sweat. the vocals cut through with real bite, and the rhythm section locks in hard enough to shake something loose. a brilliantly uncompromising banger.
brok are an independent rock band from the uk built around nick 'papi brok' brokenshire on vocals and guitar, a scotland-raised songwriter who also creates comic books for dark horse and idw, including star wars titles. jessal 'el trasero' chudasama holds down the bass, and rick 'breaker' gallagher brings notoriously loud drums. together they call their sound an 'alloy of rock and roll', and 'liar' drops today. they've been building a serious reputation on the live circuit for high-energy shows designed to shake audiences out of digital apathy. this one should do really well, it's great.
thank u for making this brok 🔥
send me – echo the light
The verdict
“echo the light craft a warm, atmospheric worship rock anthem that builds from devotion into something truly uplifting”
'send me' opens with guitars that sit somewhere between modern worship and americana, layered and atmospheric before the drums and bass settle into a steady pulse underneath. jessie schat's stunning vocal carries the song's central plea, a simple, direct cry to be used, to be sent wherever she's needed, and there's a sincerity in the delivery that never tips into earnestness. the production, handled by trent bell at bell labs in norman, oklahoma, balances that '90s and 2000s overdrive warmth with a clarity that lets the dynamics breathe. and when the song lifts, it lifts properly, the whole band moving together into something genuinely expansive. surprisingly, it's a debut single under this name, and it's a beauty.
echo the light are a norman, oklahoma based family band: jessie schat on vocals and keys, chris schat on guitar and bass, and derek mehl on drums. the three have been making music together in various forms for nearly two decades, and they've been recording with producer trent bell since 2009. 'send me' is their debut single under this name, built around a worship minded mission to share god's light and encourage others to live in purpose. that shared history shows in how tight this sounds. we love this, and will be following what they do next closely.
thank u for making this echo the light 🕯️
strange animals – ashley ray simon
The verdict
“ashley ray simon lets the subconscious lead on 'strange animals', a compelling and brilliantly untamed slice of rhythmic folktronica”
'strange animals' opens with a guitar and a drum machine that drifts just off the grid, and everything else follows that lead. the guitar tone is worn-in and close, grinding wonderfully against the rhythm, and the vocal moves with a lovely groove. there's improvisation all through this, first takes left unpolished, and it gives the whole thing a sense of motion that really works. distant vocal reverb sits alongside; intimate and slightly epic, one and th same. It's genuinely a real beauty.
ashley ray simon is a british artist now based in lisbon, portugal, building a sound out of life's twists and turns on the iberian peninsula. his earlier releases read like chapters: a live no-click debut, a widescreen follow-up with tarantino tones, and an experimental pop record born from heartbreak. now he's digging into unquantized drum machines and human-machine groove, and this single lands right in that territory. it's a bold and confident step, and we're very keen to hear where it goes next.
thank u for making this ashley ray simon 🦊
capitalize (feat. nora june) – prjct mgr
The verdict
“prjct mgr and nora june turn workplace grind into a snarling, brilliant slice of garage-soaked alt rock”
'capitalize' opens with a guitar tone that sits somewhere between 90s grunge haze and something sharper, noisier, built to cut. the drums hit loose and hard underneath, and when nora june's vocal drops in it carries the whole thing forward with an edge that never softens. lyrically it's a song about what happens when you spend decades bouncing between creative life and the day job, watching the same insecurities and power plays show up in boardrooms that showed up in school hallways. there's a frustration in it, but there's humour too, and the hook lands with a weight that sticks around after the track ends. and as it grows brilliantly into its final section; we're really onto a sharp, knowing and great listen.
prjct mgr is the portland, maine based project of a musician who started out the old way, garage rehearsals and telephone pole flyers, before a full career outside of music took over. now, twenty-five years later, there's a basement studio, the gear to fill it, and an insanely talented daughter willing to collaborate. nora june brings her own vocal presence, and the pairing works as something more than a novelty. phase two is about making music together without messing it up. on this evidence they're doing just fine. a gem, and we're keen to hear what comes next.
thank u for making this prjct mgr 🎸
5000 miles (26 mix) – kaiserkillers
The verdict
“kaiserkillers chase the horizon on '5000 miles (26 mix)', a bittersweet powerpoppunk anthem with serious momentum”
'5000 miles (26 mix)' tells the story of a road trip across the usa, loosely tracing route 66, with every mile adding distance between a touring musician and a love left behind in england. the guitars punch through left and right channels with crystalline definition, layered and sharp, while the rhythm section underneath keeps everything locked tight. the vocal layering is frantic and full, carrying the push and pull of distance and desire without ever getting lost in the mix. credit to engineer francis at strawberry field studio for that clarity. it's a driving banger this one, all momentum and ache, great guitar and a track that moves fast but weighs heavy. a real powerpoppunk gem.
kaiserkillers are a colchester-based four-piece: johnny zero on vocals and bass, cristi mac seáin and andy deforest on guitars, stix mcintosh on drums. they honed their craft across london, newcastle and the usa. the name nods to the kaiser keller in hamburg, where the beatles cut their teeth, and that lineage runs through everything they do: buzzcocks, blondie, the only ones, filtered through 60s melody and 90s noise. '5000 miles (26 mix)' lands 23rd october 2026. we love it.
thank u for making this kaiserkillers 🛣️