what better way to dive into the weekend, but with a punchy and emotive mix of rock. from raw confessions to full-bodied, hook-driven energy, these are the rock picks of the day.
salt in the wound – arctic wave
arctic wave deliver a compelling, powerful rock track that confronts heartbreak with honesty and weight
salt in the wound is driven by sharp guitar lines, a brilliantly solid production, and a dynamic build into a soaring, harmony-rich chorus. the track balances tension and release, mirroring its emotional core, and the guitar work is genuinely interesting.
arctic wave, based in austin, centre their sound around deeply personal songwriting. this release captures the reality of heartbreak without gloss, framing reflection and discomfort as part of growth. it’s a big, big tune this one. love it.
thank u for making this arctic wave 🌊
boom – chandra
chandra fuses the best kind of power pop energy with the rocky drive in their latest uplifting release
boom blends punchy guitar riffs with a few unexpected elements like whistles and layered vocal textures. thankfully, it’s still got that bright, anthemic feel that we love about chandra, while still keeping its emotional centre intact.
friends of the blog chandra are a band built around strong melodic instincts. and with boom they continue their brilliant run of consistent releases with this track, following up the frankly exceptional ‘heaven on earth’. it explores connection and the idea of soulmates through a wide, expressive lens. great stuff.
thank u for making this chandra 💥
devils and demons – paul gehl
paul gehl delivers a stunningly raw, introspective rock moment shaped by personal experience
devils and demons builds in all the right ways, serving up a dark melodic release with a heavy atmosphere. its emotional weight is carried through both the lyrical approach and musical arrangement, but most importantly – it’s a banger, and i love the vocal production. .
paul gehl, based in luxembourg, takes full control of his music as a solo artist. this release reflects his personal journey, using songwriting as a way to process and understand lived experience. essential stuff.
thank u for making this paul gehl 🖤
undercover bitch – hallaballoo
hallaballoo deliver a stunneing, high energy rock anthem packed with attitude and livewire intensity
undercover bitch wastes no time by getting stuck into one of those impressive rocky guitar verses, before exploding into driving instrumentation and a bold vocal presence. there’s just the right blend of raw edges with big, hook-led moments. and it’s a great title, isn’t it?
hallaballoo, a minneapolis-based collective, grow into collaboration and improvisational energy. this release showcases their expansive approach, pushing their sound into bigger and more dynamic territory. would love to hear more from this band this year.
thank u for making this hallaballoo ⚡
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