So many times I am asked what new bands I like. To be honest for a while there wasn’t much for my personal tastes. Lot’s of aggression but not much in the way of songs. For me if it’s hard rock or metal I MUST like the singer and the music must have some sense of melody to it. It’s one of the reasons I don’t care for death or extreme metal. I can appreciate the energy, but for me, I don’t hear songs and not a fan of “cookie monster” voices. I’ve NEVER faked liking a band because everyone said I should or they were the new hip thing. That trend for me goes all the way back to being a little kid. Which is why I was routinely made fun of for liking bands like Kiss and others when they were very much thought of as “uncool”. But I must say I am very encouraged by some of the new stuff coming down the pike. There is this trend of no nonsense straight up riff based hard rock by a whole new generation of young bands. Essentially bands with members in their 20’s that sound like they are from 1973! Anti Mortem. Scorpion Child, Kyng, Monster Truck, Rival Sons, Witchcraft, and many others have recently peaked my interest. I don’t know which if any will come out of the pack and it’s too soon to see which will develop into truly great bands that stand the test of time. But at a time when hard rock and metal needs a new Appetite For Destruction to kick everyone’s ass and shake things up and help bring back rock, there are some strong signs on the horizon. I am rooting for all these guys and you will hear many on my radio shows sprinkled among the classics. New and classic rock acts still very much needs your help to break through. So keep an eye out for this stuff and spread the word if you like it. Hopefully one of them really hits and puts a charge in a fairly stagnant world lately for new hard rock bands.
What have you heard new you like? As always comments welcomed and encouraged here!
PS: I no doubt forgot others that I like. Perhaps the biggest challenge we have with so much music so available so easily is navigating what’s out there and remembering it! Another reason I still love CDs. Much easier to keep in your line of site when it’s a physical item vs an easily lost download, file or link.
132 Responses
Check out band called Nasty Idols.
I like lots of different music, but I would classify my favorite genre to be something I would dub as “Heavy Blues.” It is blues influenced rock, and I would put The Faces, ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Rival Sons in that mix. For pure metal bands, I like The Treatment and Airbourne as some of the newer guys I enjoy.
The best band I have heard in the last 2 years is J. Roddy Walston & The Business. They are not metal, but certainly fit the “Heavy Blues” definition I set above. I have very similar criteria as you, I need a singer I like and melody. He has the ability to sing well, and also bring out some of that gravel in a voice that I personally love.
For southern rock, I dig Blackberry Smoke. And for Americana, I think The Avett Brothers are fantastic. Great harmony, super energy for a live show, and a variety of musical styles. The band touring with Slash right now, Porn Queen, they have some good stuff too.
Hey Eddie ,
Check out Brooklyn based band Riffhanger..
Riffhanger.com
I’m glad to read that your’re not into the Metal genre of ‘Extreme” or “Cookie Monster” vocalists, as you put it. I have & always will like Rock, with SINGERS!
I do like new music – we so need it – and I plan on listening to each band that I have not heard of that you named on your post. When recommendations are made on “TMS”. I always write them down.
Thanks Eddie!
Hey, Eddie! First off, I LOVE TMS! I’m so happy with your show; I feel like I’ve gone home again. I’m a total 70’s rocker, and have also had trouble finding new bands that I enjoy as much as the greats like Zeppelin, Hendrix, Van Halen, Sabbath, early Aerosmith, KISS, UFO, Foghat, etc etc. A couple of years ago I heard a band by sheer fluke; it was actually meant to be! I was completely absorbed by their sound which was reminiscent of those early 70’s years that I love so dearly. Give them a listen if you would, please! Thanks so much, and I look forward to more cool TMS episodes – smart, funny, great music, and topics!! (here’s SSF’s Christian – the riffs are awesome!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHVqVxgJQYw
Here’s Stone Soul Foundation’s BIO, too: http://stonesoulfoundation.com/ssf/bio.html
They were just voted by fans as BEST BAND, and BEST MUSIC VID (Taking Back the U.S.) via ROCKWIRED MAGAZINE for 2014. Thanks again for your time. \m/