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
Rival Sons for sure Eddie…They have actually been around for several years so I wouldn’t say they are new to the party. Pressure and Time was the first song I heard from them and that must have been around 2010 or 2011 but they are the real deal. Great new band.
Keep it up Eddie..Enjoy everything you do..
At this point I’m familiar with 4 of the 6 bands you named, just getting to know Anti-Mortem, will have to check out Witchcraft. Of those that I know, all are quality with some strong material out there already. Interesting to see you name what I’d describe as a very 70’s influenced list. That I think you might enjoy, I’d probably offer up Heaven’s Basement, One Bad Son, maybe The Sheepdogs, possibly Bleeker Ridge. Not necessarily in your wheelhouse but high on my personal list right include Wayland, Three Years Hollow, Bridge To Grace, Brand New Machine and Spanish rockers Eldorado.
Hey Eddie,
Love Scorpion Child and Rival Sons as you mentioned. Also check out The Treatment from Cambridge, UK if you haven’t heard them already. Great 80’s style metal with a few twists. They opened for Kiss and the Crue on their package tour and were great live. Also like Free Fall from Sweden. They sound like a combination of AC/DC and The Who. Interesting sound.
I’m a fan of hard rock and most metal but the new metal while they all claim to be doing their own original all sound alike. It’s hard to tell one band from another nowadays. I miss the great vocalists from the 70’s and 80’s. I recently saw a band called l Wrestled a Bear Once. They have a female singer and are weird pop meets metal sound that works and put on a great show.
Hey Eddie if you like Rival Sons then you gonna loooove Graveyard (Swe), amazing 70’s vibe hard rock! I’m surprised i never heard you mention them yet, best new band i’ve heard in years, check em out:
GRAVEYARD – Hisingen Blues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnGBa8dVm6k
GRAVEYARD – Endless Night http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HmMy2ubC7E