Rambling Man's Reviews

 A look at the best tracks the blog has been listening to for the past month. The playlist features some great music from the world of southern rock, dark metal, country, indie rock, alt-rock and a whole lot more. Click on the player to hear more. If you want to discover further playlists and new posts like this, please click on the link below to receive all the latest reviews, news and playlists. https://follow.it/anselmanderson

Bournemouth rockers Skinny Knowledge have premiered a riotous and rowdy video for the new single 'I Wonder' ahead of a series of UK headline shows, guest slots and festival dates. Watch 'I Wonder' (official music video): Skinny Knowledge's own brand of high energy accessible rock continues with the release of 'I Wonder'. The accompanying new music video encapsulates the bravado and comradery of this young group, playfully showcasing what it is to be a band in the modern music industry. Following the release of Skinny Knowledge's debut album 'Don't Turn Out The Lights ' in 2021, 'I Wonder' is another slice of high-octane, fast paced, and super catchy rock 'n' roll. It's also the first track that features all band members performing on the record. Singer/songwriter Andy L. Smooth explains, "It’s the first song we’ve released as the four of us, rather than just me playing and recording it all. Because I’m a control fr

German Psychedelic Blues act Sound of Smoke have released their first full-length LP, titled Tales  via Tonzonen Records. The seven-track release is a follow up to debut EP Eleutherumania. The band, hailing from Freiburg, Germany, consist of lead vocalist Isabell Bapte, guitarist Jens Stover, bassist Florian Kiefer and drummer Johannes Braunstein. The album blends blues, 70's psychedelia and soulful vocals to create a fresh retro sound. The LP begins with the Billie Holiday cover "Strange Fruits", Bapte does the song justice with a sultry and tender timbre over distorted guitar breaks that reverberate like a songbird on a summer's morning. Next up is "Witch Boogie" with a riff like Norman Greenbaum's 'Spirit in The Sky". Bapte's deep vocals soothe over thunderous drums and bassline that roll along like Bapte's vocals on this track. Isabell Bapte reminds me of a young Grace Slick full of emotion and feeling. The guitar work is equally imp

Much revered UK Post-punk foursome KLAMMER mark their return with the release of their blistering new single and video, "Progress (or the lack of)" -  The band’s brand new album, The Day Before Yesterda y, is out via Heavy Metal Records , on Friday 25th February. Taking influence from an assortment of arenas panning from post-punk, darkwave, goth rock and punk rock, Leeds-based KLAMMER embrace all things dark, loud, angular and melodic. The popular quartet has meticulously crafted a hugely distinctive sound that is crammed with integrity, loaded with dark pop sensibilities, and rife with layered edges that are hypnotic and deeply compelling. Formed by UK producer Steve Whitfield (The Cure/The Mission/Jane Weaver) in 2014, KLAMMER have cultivated an impressive and loyal fanbase following the release of three albums to widespread acclaim, with the band’s previous singles, 'Modern God' and 'Spiral Girl', both racking up airplay on BBC 6 Music. Aided by a stella

  Austin Rockers Cowboy Diplomacy is set to release new single 'Dark Days' this Friday, Feb 18th. The song was inspired like so many, by the Covid-19 Lockdown. The track focuses on finding brightness and light during dark times. The follow up to 'Easier When I'm Stoned follows similar struggles of finding hope during challenging times. Cowboy Diplomacy is a southern rock and blues band, hailing from Austin, TX. They have quickly established themselves as 'One to Watch' with several award nominees and features in local magazines in their hometown. They released their debut album, Burn Down the Road' in 2019 to much acclaim, including an appearance on KUTX'S Jack Anderson show. 'Dark Day's is a southern roots track with a positive message to us all. Frontman Ian Cochran's deep vocals open the song and a piano intro. Cochran's vocals are warm and rich with hope and optimism, as he breaks into the chorus. The steel guitar and piano suppleme

  Folk singer-songwriter Barry Tierney  has released the first single from his anticipated second album. The song, ‘Colours on Canvas’, is now available on all streaming services  “I was signed to Universal Music Berlin in 2015,” explains Tierney. The Irish release of his much-loved 2015 album Hotel Alamar, which reached No.1 in the Irish iTunes overall charts, saw him gain a deal with Universal and Gale Force Promotions . “I moved to Germany. I toured very successfully. We played some of the most prestigious venues in Germany, from Potsdam to Berlin. And then… the world went crazy. I moved back to Ireland, for the first time in seven years. This album, these songs, are my first release since 2014.”  ‘Colours on Canvas’ investigates Irish culture, history, art and sport. Tierney guides the reader through traditional Irish folk music with his distinctive charm and affable vocals. 'Colour on Canvas' is a pleasant history lesson for fans of folk music. Words transcribed by

    Alt-rockers   Van Go Go have recently released a new single and video for "Watch It Burn" . The track's guitar-driven rock is punchy and energetic with a strong message about moving on from a toxic situation. The catchy pop choruses and huge riffs are as catchy as the video, inspired by Marvel Comic's Ghost Rider. Lead singer Nathan MacKinder says of the inspiration behind the track. "With "Watch It Burn", we really wanted to put together a straight-ahead rock song with power guitars and booming drums, the type of rock song we all grew up with that a kid can learn to play in his basement and blast at maximum volume.” He continues, "Outwardly "Watch It Burn" may sound like it's about giving up, but it's more about moving on from a toxic situation. Some people are so bullheaded that they will let their whole world burn down around them before they admit that they made a mistake. I initially wrote the song about the current polit

  Uk Alt- Rockers' FOXHAUNT have released their latest EP,  Mindset,  this past Friday. The quartet hail from York, England and consists of lead vocalist Ollie Swift, guitarist Thom Clayton, bassist Nick Dawson, and drummer Jamie Scott. The band count Linkin Park and Alexisonfire as many influences on their brand of pop, punk, and rock music with electronic elements. The band have gained considerable support over the years with coverage in Planet Rock and BBC Introducing. 'Mindset'  harks back to the days of rock bands singing huge pop choruses and massive riffs. The opener "Enemy" covers the topic of a person losing control of their own perspective and looking for someone to blame. The dazzling keys in the intro soon follow with large, thunderous guitars and soothing vocal melodies that concludes with pounding drums and a dreamlike instrumental. Next up is "Parallels", which is more of a commercial pop track. Vocalist Swift's tender voice blends w

  Written by SOKOJO, produced by Burak Yerebakan (Yard of Blondes, Model, Crook…) at the Wakeful Room, and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More.), SOKOJO’s debut EP “MORE” is Out now The five tracks EP includes “Keeps Me Going”, "More", "Something Real”, and the two exclusives "Never Knew” and “Again?”. The EP release comes out with the latest music video for the song “More”, written and directed by band member Kris Soekotjo. Cinematography by Christopher Breitinger (@chrisbstation) The music video depicts SOKOJO playing in a World War II bunker alongside the story of the main character eventually confronting her about wanting more from his love than a partial split. Fusing the power and attitude of hard rock with danceable rhythms and precise hooks of indie music, SOKOJO is the new rising alternative/hard-rock band in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2018, SOKOJO is composed of Kris Soekotjo (lead vocal/guitar), Kyle Soekotjo (guitar/vocals), Sabastian Neud

The Black Country rock/metal group have overcome odds and impossible situations to deliver their anticipated debut album 'Tyrant Lizard King' this coming March. Ahead of the album's release, Tyrannosaurus Nebulous have premiered a latest music video for lead track 'Deal with My Evil'. Watch '"Deal with My Evil'" (official music video) 'Deal With My Evil', written before the arrival of unprecedented circumstances two years ago, chimes with the times and highlights the difficulties some face with mental health leading to inwards negativity and how actions have consequences on ourselves and those around us. The track specifically focuses a lens on abusive, controlling, and destructive natures that push people to the edge, with unimaginable, sometimes malicious, dire consequences. "How much of a victim of evil do you have to be before evil consumes you? The song explores the theme that everyone’s ‘good’ until they’re pushed over the edge

 LA- Based quintet Once Human return with their third studio effort, Scar Weaver , due out next Friday (Feb 11) via EarMusic Records. The modern metal outfit was formed in 2014 by ex-Machine Head guitarist Logan Mader and vocalist Lauren Hart. Bassist Damien Rainaud, drummer Dillon Trollope and newest recruit, second guitarist/songwriter Max Karon complete the line-up. Karon has brought a new creative force to the band's brutal and resilient style of metal with dynamic guitar breaks and lyrics based on pain, trauma, and darkness.  One of the key components of this is the versatility of Lauren Hart's vocals that blend emotive clean vocals with hallowed harsh vocals. The opener "Eidolon" is a testament to this. Hart snarls through all the rage and vitriol of a caged beast over sonic grooves and earth-shattering drums to send this album into full gear. Next up is "Deadlock", a track that features Mader's ex-colleague in the guise of Machine Head vocalist Ro

  COLOURS OF ONE return to the fold in emphatic style with the release of their hugely engrossing debut album, Vessels , which arrives on Friday 1st April. The popular South Wales alt-rockers have also just revealed a sumptuous new single and video for the track, 'Bones of Hope', out now -  Highly regarded quartet COLOURS OF ONE have carved a name for themselves by dispatching sprawling alt-rock cuts framed by infectiously concise rhythms and gargantuan guitars. Composed of Michael Simmonds-Dickens (vocals, guitar), Lewis Morgan (bass), Miff Tuck (guitar), and Paul Jones (drums), the Welsh rockers have taken influence from the bastions of alternative rock such as  Pearl Jam, Jimmy Eat World, Biffy Clyro , and Smashing Pumpkins. To date, COLOURS OF ONE have released a clutch of EPs and singles which have sparked growing support from the likes o f RockSound, Powerplay, and Classic Rock Magazine, as well as having multiple music videos playlisted by Kerrang! TV, and an

  The Rambling Man's Playlist of The Month returns with a look at the best tracks of January. Click on the player below to listen.