Rambling Man's Reviews

------------------- Edited by Anselm Anderson Vancouver's power trio, The Slip-Ons   released their sophomore EP Overtime, released last week via Scamindy Records . The seven-track EP is 90's alternative rock mixed with power pop and draws influences from records by Bob Mould, Hüsker Dü, and The Replacements, with flashes of Ash and Dinosaur Jr. in the guitar tones.  Fronted by Brock Pytel of Montreal pop-punk staples Doughboys and longtime bassist for Sarah McLachlan ,  Brian Minato. T he Vancouver four-piece is completed by Rob “Shockk” Matharu of The Spitfires on guitar and Shane Wilson on drums. Overtime takes its name from the sudden-death hockey period, used as an extended metaphor for pressure and consequence. The EP leans heavier and more focused than the band’s debut, pairing Pytel’s gravel-edged vocals with punchy, direct arrangements. The lyrics widen their scope, too. Politics surface naturally, filtered through experience rather than slogans. As Pytel...

Photo Credit: Nick Pegg This past Friday, Montreal’s The Fake Friends released Let’s Not Overthink This , a full-length that blends post-punk rhythm / new wave late-night record. On Stomp Records , the record nods to Pylon , Wire , Parquet Courts , Cloud Nothings , and Franz Ferdinand , cutting through. The release has been described as a lively and wired album that reflects the city the band were brought up in. What began in 2020 as an opportunity to socialise became a regular occurrence for the group.  Founded by Frontman Matthew Savage and guitarist Luca Santilli, they were soon joined by longtime collaborators Felix Crawford-Legault, Michael Kamps, Bradley Cooper-Graham, and Michael Tomizzi until the lineup locked into place.  The record opens with “ Ministry Of Peace ,” a jittery broadcast that moves toward media noise and cultural static. Savage repeats “no truce” as the song builds, guitars cut through the haze. It sets up the album’s central theme: trying to hold ...

Angel Du$t by Nat Wood | Rising Rock'n'Roll act Angel Du$t have released their final track, ahead of the release of their new album this Friday. This week, they're releasing their highly anticipated new album, COLD 2 THE TOUCH , and today they're sharing " Pain Is A Must ".  Arriving this Friday, 13th February, via Run For Cover Records, COLD 2 THE TOUCH is a 26-minute blast of eclectic, hard-hitting music that proves Angel Du$t's drive to make authentically aggressive rock & roll. "Pain Is A Must" follows the usual recipe of singles,  ahead of an important new release. " I'm The Outside ", " DU$T ", " Cold 2 The Touch ", " The Knife ", and " The Beat " and its guest vocals from Terror's Scott Vogel are sure to leave listeners excited for hearing COLD 2 THE TOUCH in full on Friday. Stream "Pain Is A Must" everywhere: angeldustmoney.lnk.to/painisamust Pre-order COLD 2 THE T...

Photo Credit: Duff Press Have you ever dreamed of becoming the lead singer of an Eighties' Classic rock band? Do you imagine being Sebastian Bach and reminisce about those wild days of your youth? Well, you might be in luck. Legendary hard rock band Skid Row have teamed up with USA company Sweetwater, the world’s leading online retailer of musical instruments and pro-audio equipment, to search worldwide for their next lead vocalist. The collaboration invites singers from around the world to audition for the opportunity to front one of rock’s most enduring and respected bands. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Skid Row. Over four decades, the band has delivered some of hard rock’s most iconic anthems, including “ 18 and Life ”, “ I Remember You ”, “ Monkey Business ” and “ Youth Gone Wild ”.With multi-platinum albums, chart-topping releases, and a global touring legacy, the band has remained a defining force in rock music. Now, Skid Row is opening the door to a new era by se...

Photo Credit: Tina Gross Edited by Anselm Anderson Seattle’s The Darts return with “Apocalypse,” the second from their upcoming LP Halloween Love Songs, arriving March 3. “Apocalypse” follows up on “ Midnight Creep ,” which felt like a B-movie anthem. “Apocalypse” is part of the darker half of the album, featuring explosive rhythms and a sing-along chorus. It has a creepy yet sultry vibe that elevates the pulse of horror rock . This track was released yesterday and is available online to enjoy before the album hits the streaming platforms next month.   Watch the Video for “Apocalypse” below. . Singer/organ conjurer  Nicole Laurenne  was inspired to write the song following a trip to  Angers, France , when she visited the massive medieval Apocalypse Tapestry , a wall of woven chaos, angels, beasts and storms. “The lightning bolt struck me,” she says. “The song practically wrote itself in the van as we left the castle.” Nicole felt the strange liberation of ...

Art Coverwork courtesy of Future Radio Today, South African rock act Future Radio has announced they are set to release  Punk Rock Saved My Life!,   their latest single, on February 20th. On the release, they join forces with South African singer/songwriter Pieter Marcato  to create a pop punk anthem that pays tribute to the genre that, I think, got my generation hooked on pop rock music. The anthem evokes memories of bands like Blink-182 , Green Day and Simple Plan. The track is an ode to the genre that shaped the band's future (no pun intended). It really captures the feel-good mood that music sets, with its catchy choruses, easy-to-hum tunes, and uplifting guitar riffs. It's certainly worth a listen upon its release for fans of that era. The song draws subtle nods to those said bands, such as Green Day, along with bands like Paramore. The track is said to focus on the particular Warped Tour Era of that generation.  Pieter   Marcato  adds about the t...

Photo Credit: Johnathan Sohn Edited by Anselm Anderson Rambling Man introduces Toronto ’s melodic punk lifers Wasting Time. They returned last week with their new single “ Ripped Blue Jeans ” via People of Punk Rock Records . It’s an anthemic, pop-punk track, reminiscent of 90's MTV bands like Green Day and Weezer . The track captures that feeling of late 90s freedom and dreams of becoming a big rock band, selling out arenas everywhere. Formed in 2017, Wasting Time has steadily built a catalogue through its melodies. They have released five EPs, three full-length albums, and a streak of singles that evoke acts like   Alkaline Trio ,  No Use for a Name ,  MxPx ,  Blink-182 , and  Green Day . Their latest release,  Hurry Up and Wait , cemented their reputation as one of Canada’s most reliable carriers of melodic punk tradition, and  “Ripped Blue Jeans”  only deepens that lineage. Mixed and mastered by Matt Gauthier at Arc Studios , the sing...