introverttoday’s rock picks move through art-alt-rock chaos, dreamlike distortion, neo-grunge weight and defiant political rock. these four tracks bring pressure, personality and sharp guitar energy into focus.
reset the internet - preloved things
The verdict
“preloved things turn digital exhaustion into a sharp and off kilter art-rock banger”
reset the internet is a wonderfully wiry art-alt-rock track from a brisbane band pulling at the plug of the current moment. perfectly spiky guitars, unusual rhythms and a lovely vocal melody suggest anything other than a choatic jam, but rather a carefully made tune with a lot of songcraft. these odd angles and a changes in direction, give this bags of character, and it's clever in a way that doesn't feel inaccessible. if you like your indie rock a little more playful, political and restless, this is the track for you.
preloved things have been playing in garages and around town for years, with this single appearing on their maiden album how life strange is. the song meditates on the desire to restart everything, while still asking how strange the human project can get. after their debut ep kitchen sink drama and an award-winning video at west end film festival, they return with a sound that charms, challenges and confounds. a brilliant, brilliant single.
thank u for making this preloved things 🌀
don't do don’t say - maria grazia altea
The verdict
“maria grazia altea turns distorted reality into a hazy, dreamlike rock melancholy moment”
don do don’t say moves between dream and reality, shaping a rock atmosphere that feels blurred, uneasy and strangely comforting. it's got this lovely almost sea-shanty feel at the start, which really grabbed my attention. and the harmonies are great. the track reflects how people can be led to distort what is in front of them, using melancholy and tension to repaint the harshness of everyday life. musically, it's a really compelling arrangement.
maria grazia altea leans into a sound where beauty and discomfort sit side by side. the release suggests a world where reality is never fully stable, but the act of turning confusion into song becomes its own form of release. with its reflective core and dreamlike mood, it works as a rock track about perception, distortion and the comfort that can come from naming what feels unreal. it's a brilliant single, and i'm hoping we can hear more this year.
thank u for making this maria grazia altea 🌫️
since emilia - yacovelli
The verdict
“yacovelli bring neo-grunge heat into a wonderfully heavy and groove-laden rock banger”
since emilia opens with a delicate baglama melody before dropping into a heavy, down-tuned groove soaked in 90s alt-rock attitude. it really is a heady, fascinating mix. the track pulls from grunge, stoner rock and psychedelia, building towards a hook that feels incredibly thick, distinctive and full of restless new york energy. it really hits it's stride and is impossible not to nod your head along to.
yacovelli is a nyc-based neo-grunge, punk and alternative rock band led by songwriter-producer alex yacovelli. produced by alex himself, the single continues his fusion of bowery punk and seattle grunge, with years of beatles, soundgarden and slash influence running through its dna. the result feels raw, swaggering and built around a lyrical riddle designed to keep listeners digging. an essential rock release to get your ears around this week.
thank u for making this yacovelli 🎸
save ourselves - motihari brigade
The verdict
“motihari brigade turn a compelling political concept into a rock and roll stunner”
save ourselves is a defiant rock track built around electric guitar force, political tension and the belief that rock can still shake loose a world of illusions. as a political force, it's been a compelling concept and we love that motihari brigade are spearheading it once again. it carries the energy of protest, but its drive comes from questioning rather than slogan-chasing, making the song feel urgent and intellectually restless. best of all, it actually slaps too.
motihari brigade is the invention of guitarist, singer and songwriter eric winston, with a name rooted in motihari, india, the birthplace of george orwell. the single comes from the forthcoming album problematic, a project framed around critical thinking, algorithmic control and cultural division. it asks where independent minds go when society itself starts to feel like the cult, answering with sharp guitars and defiant spirit. i love the thinking, and the track? well, it's even better than that.
thank u for making this motihari brigade 🧠