today’s rock picks move through psychological weight, orchestral heartbreak and synth-heavy indie-rock remembrance. these tracks bring together grit, intimacy and the kind of emotional release that stays under the skin.
black thread – daddy drwg
daddy drwg turns inner weight into impressively dynamic, atmospheric alternative rock
black thread is a dark anti-ballad built around endurance, repetition and psychological pressure. atmospheric and emotionally raw, the track moves with a wonderfully heavy pull, leaving space for depression, illness, or failed relationship to sit inside the same shadowed frame. really though, it’s the hook that gets me here, it’s fantastic, simply expressed and the whole thing amounts to a brilliant single.
daddy drwg is the solo project of cardiff songwriter and producer richard proctor, working independently with alternative rock textures and stark lyrical themes. written and produced by proctor, and mastered by charlie francis, this release turns a little inward. as a study of the things we struggle with, it’s beautifully bleak, focused and human. an essential listen this week.
thank u for making this daddy drwg 🧵
love keeps burning still – reetoxa
reetoxa turns divorce and memories into a beautifully sweeping country-rock ballad
reetoxa’s love keeps burning still is a tender rock ballad with delicate piano, vulnerable vocals and stirring strings that give the song a widescreen emotional lift. with a slight nod to the fab four in it’s arrangement, its soft tones genuinely carry real weight, turning the ache of a long relationship ending into something warm, cinematic and full of feeling. the chorus is really my highlight though, it’s marvellous.
reetoxa is the project of melbourne songwriter and vocalist jason mckee, produced by simon moro with a strong cast including jessica mcpherson-riley, kit riley, james ryan, peter marin and terry hart. written during covid after mckee reflected on his divorce from a ten-year relationship, the song draws beauty from a turbulent time. with a budapest strings orchestra recorded remotely, it brings ambition, heartbreak and rock-band craft into one of our favourite singles this month. a brilliant tune.
thank u for making this reetoxa 🎻
tell me you care – sutlej
london’s sutlej turn raw feeling into a tense, melodic rock explosion
tell me you care is a sharp alternative rock track that pulls from 90s grunge, emo and modern post-punk, balancing weight, melody and intensity with real urgency. the melody at its heart is a real treat, and it kinda feels heavy without losing shape, giving the band’s raw edge enough space to land emotionally as well as physically. and that chorus does hit you in a physical way, it’s huge and i like how it almost goes into post-rock territory at times.
friend of the blog sutlej are a three-piece alternative rock band from london, made up of lewis maddison, george power and george butcher. produced by alex mountford, formerly of dead!, the single follows their debut let me out and continues the start of a strong run of releases. already known for high-energy live shows and diy uk tours, the band sound focused, hungry and fully switched on. do not sleep on sutlej, this is great.
thank u for making this sutlej 🔴
quicksand – terminal fear
terminal fear turn political manipulation into a brilliantly cutting and hard-hitting rock statement
quicksand is a punchy rock track with snappy groove-led movement, hip-hop bite and a serious message at its core. the song tackles the manipulation of uk symbols and the divisive narratives that can pull people into confusion, turning frustration into a track that feels urgent, direct and tightly wound. it’s an important message in these difficult times, and quicksand serve it up in style.
terminal fear are a winchester band made up of skip, stu, rumm and twiggy, building on years of friendship and musical chemistry. drawing from red hot chili peppers, rage against the machine, hip-hop and rock, they use this release to confront the feeling of knowing the truth but struggling to make it heard. raw and unfiltered, it finds the band at their most vital. a great track, and we’re looking forward to what comes next for these guys.
thank u for making this terminal fear ⚡
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