Tag: alternative rock

Sugar at the Hollywood Palladium (Los Angeles, September 30th, 2026)

by desertrockunited3960, posted in Music Reviews

⚡ The Show

J. Robbins (Jawbox) opened the show with a solo acoustic guitar set about half an hour long and around seven songs. To be transparent, I am not familiar with his music, and while I have heard of Jawbox, I can’t say I would know a song if I heard it. As a performance, it was fine; his strumming and vocals were good, and the last song of his set received the most reaction. Solo acoustic can be tricky, as limited instrumentation can lead to an indifferent audience reaction; however, Robbins was a fine introduction for what was to come.

90s alternative rockers Sugar brought their Love You Even Still World Tour to the Hollywood Palladium, delivering a 90‑minute set that proved age has nothing on intensity. Frontman Bob Mould, now 65, tore through riffs and vocals with the energy of someone half his age, while David Barbe’s melodic bass lines added depth and drive. With Barbe and Mould trading lead vocals, Sugar felt like a true band again — not just a Mould solo project.

Drummer Malcolm Travis, now in his mid‑70s, kept the pulse steady, though some of the early set’s power felt slightly restrained compared to the band’s early‑career ferocity. On songs like Tilted from Beaster, you could imagine the extra punch drummer Jon Wurster brings to Mould’s solo shows. Still, Travis held his own, keeping the momentum tight and focused.

🎸 The Sound

Early in the set, the bass tone leaned a bit muffled and heavy in the mix. Barbe looked to be playing an Ampeg SVT-style head with an 8×10 cabinet. A brighter EQ — more treble, less mids — would’ve let the guitar breathe a little more. Once balanced, though, the band locked in beautifully, especially on Hoover Dam, Your Favorite Thing, and JC Auto. The guitar sound was vintage Mould, high gain distortion with no effects just pure overdriven riffing. Playing what looked to be a Blackstar Artisan 100 head and Artisan 412A cabinet, in addition to a Fender Twin Reverb.

Having been fortunate to see Sugar last time around in 1992 I came prepared with earplugs as that show was one of the loudest, I have experienced. This time around the volume was at a much more manageable level but without hindering the wall of distortion sound Mould has made a career of.

 

🧡 The Verdict

Sugar played songs from every release — Copper Blue, File Under Easy Listening, Beaster, Besides — plus two new tracks. It was a nostalgic yet fresh reminder of how powerful this trio remains. The choice to play songs from each release gave fans the opportunity to experience the full catalog. If this really is their final curtain call, it was a hell of a way to go out. No fluff, no encore — just pure, high‑energy rock from start to finish.

🎶 Setlist 

  • The Act We Act
  • A Good Idea
  • Changes
  • Company Book
  • After All the Roads Have Led to Nowhere
  • Hoover Dam
  • Where Diamonds Are Halos
  • Running Out of Time
  • Gift
  • Your Favorite Thing
  • Clownmaster (with Beatles “Birthday” snippet for David Barbe’s birthday)
  • Frustration
  • House of Dead Memories
  • Long Live Love
  • Explode and Make Up
  • Come Around
  • Tilted
  • JC Auto
  • Helpless
  • Gee Angel
  • If I Can’t Change Your Mind

THE HEADLESS — Another Cloth & Cast Into the Firmament

by desertrockunited3960, posted in Music Reviews

Origins: Cosmic Ambition in Rust Belt Reality

Flint isn’t exactly known for cosmic rock epics, but The Headless treat geography like a suggestion. Andy Lenox and Gary Behling build towering, atmospheric guitar layers that feel like they’re trying to terraform the Midwest. Phil Danne’s bass is the gravitational anchor, and Jay Gauthier’s drums hit with the force of a meteor strike.

They’re a space‑rock and alt‑metal band, sure — but that’s just the scaffolding. The real magic is the theatrical streak running through everything they do. Their songs feel like Jim Steinman writing a single for Alice in Chains, or a Boston × Baroness crossover that somehow makes perfect sense once you hear it.

The Sound: Grunge Bones, Cosmic Flesh, Theatrical Blood

The Headless pull from grunge’s emotional weight, early‑aughts alt‑metal’s muscular riffing, and the over‑the‑top drama of classic rock. The result is a sound that’s heavy, melodic, atmospheric, and unapologetically huge.

  • Space‑rock atmosphere — shimmering guitars, cosmic keys, and wide‑open sonic landscapes
  • Alt‑metal muscle — thick riffs, punchy rhythms, and choruses built like fortresses
  • Grunge grit — emotional weight, raw textures, and unvarnished honesty
  • Theatrical rock excess — big hooks, dramatic builds, and arrangements that feel like scenes

It’s music that wants to be felt, not just heard.

Single Spotlight: “Another Cloth”

“Another Cloth” is the band’s mission statement in miniature. It opens with a shimmering, celestial haze before the guitars crash in like a wave hitting a cliff. Andy’s vocals soar — not in a delicate, indie‑rock way, but in a “aiming for the cheap seats” way. The chorus is massive, triumphant, and uplifting.

It’s the kind of song that feels like a launch sequence, the moment a rocket shakes off gravity and decides it’s done with Earth.

Single Spotlight: “Cast Into the Firmament”

If “Another Cloth” is the ascent, “Cast Into the Firmament” is the moment the ship breaks atmosphere and sees the stars. It’s darker, heavier, and more theatrical. The riffs hit with early‑aughts alt‑metal weight, but the arrangement is pure cosmic opera — layered guitars, atmospheric keys, and drums that sound like they’re trying to punch through the stratosphere. The chorus is huge, like a space‑rock sermon delivered from a burning pulpit.

What Comes Next

Two singles in, The Headless already sound like a band too big for the room they’re playing in. They plan to keep releasing singles through fall and winter, building momentum toward a full album next year. If they maintain this trajectory, they’re poised to become one of those rare underground bands whose sound feels mythic — a cult favorite waiting to be discovered by the masses.

Andy Lenox — vocals, guitar, keys, production, visuals
Gary Behling — guitar, vocals, keys
Phil Danne — bass
Jay Gauthier — drums, photography, video

https://theheadless.bandcamp.com/

Her Name Was Fire – Obsidian Light

by desertrockunited3960, posted in Music Reviews

Lisbon has always had a knack for birthing bands that don’t quite fit into any box, but HER NAME WAS FIRE never even pretended to look for one. The duo — João Campos and Tiago Lopes — crawled out of a late‑night bar conversation back in 2016 and immediately started making noise loud enough to wake the entire Iberian Peninsula.

And not the polite kind of noise.
We’re talking screaming low‑end guitar, drums that sound like they’re trying to punch through the Earth’s crust, and vocals that swing between melodic prophecy and pure volcanic release.

This is a two‑piece that plays like a five‑piece that’s been possessed.

HER NAME WAS FIRE doesn’t “blend genres” — they collide them.
Grunge grit, prog wanderlust, blues swagger, stoner weight… all smashed together into something that feels both familiar and completely alien.

Every riff feels like it’s been dipped in gasoline.
Every drum hit feels like it’s trying to settle a score.

And because they’re fully DIY — design, illustration, filmmaking, the whole creative ecosystem — the band’s world feels cohesive, intentional, and unmistakably theirs. No committee. No polish. Just raw vision.

They’ve shared stages with heavy hitters like Mondo Generator (Nick Oliveri, ex‑QOTSA), The Vintage Caravan, Radio Moscow, and The Black Mirrors, and they’ve held their own with the kind of swagger that only comes from total creative ownership.

Across Portugal and Europe, they’ve built a reputation for shows that feel like controlled chaos and riffs that hit like a meteor. The pandemic forced the duo into an involuntary hibernation, but instead of cooling off, they pressurized. What came out the other side is heavier, darker, and more focused than anything they’ve done before.

Electrify

Genre: Stoner‑punk meteor strike

Vibe: Getting drop‑kicked by a riff wearing steel‑toed boots

“Electrify” doesn’t open the EP — it ambushes it. João’s guitar tone sounds like it was recorded inside a collapsing volcano, while Tiago’s drums are basically a bar fight in 4/4. The chorus hits like someone yelling motivational quotes at you while shaking your shoulders violently.

This is the track that says: “We’re back from the pandemic and we brought weapons.”

Head on the Wall

Genre: Aggressive stoner‑grunge meltdown.

Vibe: Existential crisis but make it groove.

This one feels like the soundtrack to pacing around your apartment at 3AM, arguing with your own reflection. The riffs are sludgy enough to qualify as a controlled substance, and the vocals swing between melodic prophecy and “I’ve had enough of this nonsense.”

The final minute? A slow‑motion collapse into beautiful, cathartic chaos.

Facekicker

Genre: Stoner-garage rock with a twist.

Vibe: Short blast of melodic garage-punk energy.

The song operates at the intersection of stoner rock, punk urgency, and sludge‑leaning heaviness. João Campos’ guitar tone is thick and abrasive, built around a central riff that drives the track with mechanical precision. Tiago Lopes’ drumming is equally forceful, emphasizing punch and momentum over ornamentation.

The arrangement is compact, leaving little room for atmospheric detours. Instead, the band focuses on impact — short, sharp bursts of energy that underline the track’s confrontational title.

Better Days

Genre: Desert‑blues swagger with a cracked grin.

Vibe: Driving through the desert with no AC and too much attitude.

“Better Days” is the EP’s swagger track — dusty, bluesy, and mean in all the right ways. The riffs strut. The drums stomp. The vocals sound like they’ve been marinated in sunburn and cheap whiskey. This is the one that’ll get stuck in your head while you’re trying to do normal adult tasks like grocery shopping or pretending to listen in meetings.

Steamed

Genre: Psychedelic doom lullaby.

Vibe: Watching the world burn but it’s kinda pretty.

The closer is a slow‑burn monolith — a sunrise made of smoke and distortion. It’s the emotional gut‑punch of the EP, the moment where the duo lets the weight settle.

The final riff feels like a farewell wave from a giant made of granite. Heavy, patient, inevitable.

Final Verdict

Obsidian Light is HER NAME WAS FIRE at their most feral, focused, and creatively unhinged. It’s a five‑track reminder that stoner rock doesn’t have to be sleepy, psychedelic doesn’t have to be gentle, and duos can absolutely sound like they’re trying to crack the Earth’s mantle. This release will appear in various top 10 lists of 2026!

Jesse Stilettö Interview — Cosmic Desert Rock, Songwriting, Recording & New Album Insights

by desertrockunited3960, posted in Interviews

Band Influences

DRU: Who are your biggest influences from a band perspective? Anyone who has a story to tell. Artists who are building their own world, even if it’s messy or hard to define. We’re drawn more to intent and identity than genre — where you can hear that something personal is driving it rather than just chasing a sound.

Musician Influences

DRU: Any specific guitar player, bass player, or drummer influences? There are too many to list. It changes depending on what we’re listening to at any given time. More than individual names, it’s usually moments — or the way someone approaches space in a song — that end up sticking with us and working their way into what we create.

Sound & Style

DRU: How would you describe your sound? We aim for something thoughtfully cosmic, pulling from desert, stoner, 70s, and general rock influences. We try to sound like whatever the song and story need — sometimes straightforward, sometimes more layered — always resisting a formula.

Band Origins

DRU: How did the band form and come together? It was the culmination of playing in a variety of bands and touring together for many years. Eventually we decided to try something different from what we’d done in the past and see where it would lead.

Songwriting Process

DRU: What’s your songwriting process? During the demo process, we send files back and forth to communicate initial ideas and structures. Once we get in the same room with our instruments, that’s when things really start to shift. We try different approaches and sounds, letting the songs evolve naturally. As the songs take shape, so does the story.

Recording Process

DRU: Describe the recording process. Is it done by sending files to each other, or is everyone in the studio? For this album, we recorded with our friend Chris Hoge (of the band Bad Bad Hats) and couldn’t have been happier with his expertise, patience, and willingness to experiment. He took our tracks to the next level — and he’s just a good dude.

New Album Overview

DRU: Describe your new release and what makes it different from previous releases. This is our first album and the first chapter in the story of Jesse Stilettö. We’re excited to share it and hope you’ll stick around for the rest as the story unfolds.

Collaboration Wishlist

DRU: One or two artists or bands you’d like to collaborate with? We’d be open to an invitation from any artist, regardless of popularity or skill. If ideas connect and the chemistry is there, it would be a shame not to create something together.

Tour Plans

DRU: Any plans for an upcoming tour? Right now, we’re just a studio project, but if the right opportunity comes along, you never know.

Preferred Music Formats

DRU: Best format — vinyl records, cassettes, CDs, or downloads (regardless of current popularity)? Each format has its pros and cons. Physical media holds a special place for us — we have mountains of CDs and have been known to go on vinyl‑store binges. At the same time, you can’t underestimate the unexpected reach and connection that digital releases can create for people.

 

 

Inside Machine: 18 Bands Rebuild the GRUNTRUCK Legacy From the Ground Up

by desertrockunited3960, posted in Music Reviews

The Seattle heavy underground has always had its unsung giants, and GRUNTRUCK remains one of the most compelling. Their fusion of grunge grit, alternative metal weight, and hypnotic, diesel‑thick groove carved out a sound that never fit neatly into the mainstream narrative—but absolutely shaped the era.

Now, a new tribute compilation—Inside Machine—brings that legacy roaring back with 18 reinterpretations that honor the band’s roots while pushing their songs into bold new territory.

Available now on CD (digisleeve), Bandcamp, and all streaming platforms, this is the most ambitious GRUNTRUCK tribute ever assembled.

18 Tracks, 18 Perspectives, One Heavy Lineage

What makes Inside Machine special is its commitment to total artistic freedom. No one here is trying to mimic GRUNTRUCK. Instead, each artist pulls a different thread from the band’s DNA—groove, grit, atmosphere, abrasion—and stretches it into something new.

Here’s the full lineup:

MasaCritika – Machine Action

Maybe Human – Spy

Grunge Pit – Crazy Love

Dead Storm Rising – Slow Scorch

Miss Prince – Body Farm

Defiant Disorder – Gotta Believe

Savannah – Not A Lot To Save

Spoon Hammer – Above Me

Method Of The W.O.R.M – Machine II

Diego Annuitti & Los Manyas – Move In Silence

Kaamosmasennus – Trip

Zerothson – Build A Hole

Bolshevik Intervention – Follow

Godes Yrre – Buried

Hellgrimm – Situation

Thunderwize – War Flower

Quizboy feat. Billy Lowry – Crucifunkin’

Cruenta Venganza – So Long

Across these tracks, you’ll hear everything from sludge‑leaning reinterpretations to industrial‑tinged experiments to faithful-but-fierce updates of GRUNTRUCK’s heaviest moments. It’s a reminder of how flexible the band’s songwriting always was—and how many modern artists still feel their influence.

A Tribute That Actually Adds to the Legacy

Most tribute albums play it safe. Inside Machine does the opposite.

It captures the spirit of GRUNTRUCK rather than the exact shapes. The riffs hit hard, the vocals snarl and brood, and the atmosphere stays thick and shadowed—but each band brings its own identity to the table.

This is the kind of tribute that doesn’t freeze the past in amber. It reactivates it.

SUPERCHAINED – Symbolic

by desertrockunited3960, posted in Music Reviews

Superchained is a solo musical project by Hugo Lanvin, launched in 2017. As its sole member, Hugo composes and records all tracks independently. After a period of sonic exploration, he released the first EP, The 0,00$ EP, in 2019, followed by the debut album Strangekind in 2022. These releases laid the foundation for the new project and helped define his unique musical identity.

Following Strangekind, the future of Superchained was uncertain. A second album had never been part of the original plan—the intent was to release a single, ten-track album that fully captured the essence of the project. This led Hugo to a pivotal question: “Should I continue this project or move on to something else?”

In confronting this dilemma, he experienced a mix of doubt and introspection, but also a renewed drive to create another album—one that would further solidify Superchained’s identity. The goal was not to replicate Strangekind, but to evolve naturally: staying true to the project’s roots while venturing into musical styles he had long admired.

Genre-bending grit meets emotional depth in Hugo Lanvin’s latest solo release

If you haven’t heard of Superchained yet, now’s the time to tune in. The one-man project helmed by Hugo Lanvin returns with Symbolic, a bold follow-up that refuses to play it safe. This isn’t just another alt-rock record—it’s a layered, genre-hopping exploration of identity, emotion, and sonic evolution.

🎶 Sound & Style
Symbolic blends grunge-rooted riffs with alternative rock textures, but that’s just the foundation. Lanvin throws in ballads, funk grooves, fusion flourishes, indie punk energy, and even flashes of metal. It’s a melting pot of influences that somehow never feels scattered. Think Alice in Chains meets Smashing Pumpkins but filtered through a deeply personal lens.

The production is tight without being sterile. Lanvin aimed for a modern, balanced mix—each instrument has its space, and nothing feels over-polished. It’s raw where it needs to be, refined where it counts.

🧠 Themes & Emotion
This album is introspective to its core. Drawing from lived experiences, Lanvin explores themes of doubt, identity, and artistic purpose. It’s the kind of record that invites repeat listens—not just for the sound, but for the emotional layers tucked beneath.

🎸 DIY Spirit
What makes Symbolic even more impressive? Hugo Lanvin did it all. Electric and bass guitars, piano, drums, vocals—every note is his. That DIY ethos pulses through the album, giving it a sense of urgency and authenticity that’s hard to fake.

💭 Final Thoughts
For fans of emotionally charged rock with a fearless approach to genre, Symbolic is a must-listen. It’s not just an album—it’s a statement of artistic resilience and evolution.

Tracklist:

1. Born Again

2. Let’s Make Something

3. New Sensation

4. 9:17

5. Falling Down

6. The Trip

7. All About the Money

8. Runaway

9. The Narcissist

10. Prosthetic Head

For more information on Superchained
👉 https://linktr.ee/superchained

Symbolic is available now on CD digipack and streaming via Bitume Prods label.

Igarka – Dopamine Ocean

by desertrockunited3960, posted in Music Reviews

Igarka’s Dopamine Ocean isn’t just an EP—it’s a sonic detonation.

Released October 10, 2025, this Italian quintet has unleashed a genre-bending, emotionally charged debut that’s turning heads and melting minds. Formed in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, Igarka is part of a vibrant underground Italian music scene. While bands such as Karnivool, TesseracT, and My Bloody Valentine are not explicitly mentioned by the band as influences, there are sonic elements that call these bands to mind when listening to their EP. The band does mention an affinity for Deftones and Baroness and while Igarka does not explicitly sound similar, there are certain soundscapes and sonic dimensions they share with these influences.

Sound Explosion

Imagine shoegaze colliding with grunge, melodic hardcore, and power metal—all wrapped in a dreamy haze. That’s Igarka. Their sound is heavy, hypnotic, and wildly unpredictable. The dynamic shifts are wild: quiet introspection explodes into chaotic breakdowns. The layering of shoegaze textures with aggressive rhythms often creates a sound that’s both dreamy and devastating. Every track is a mood swing you’ll want to ride.

Vocals That Haunt & Heal

Aisja Baglioni’s voice floats, sings, and soars. From the surreal forest of “Hider” to the shimmering shoegaze of “Follow for More,” her delivery is pure magic. Aisja’s vocals shift from whispery vulnerability to full-throttle fury.

🔥 Tracklist

  • “Hider” – ethereal and eerie
  • “Follow for More” – shoegaze shimmer
  • “Sabotage” – raw and relentless
  • “Self-Similar” – mathy and mesmerizing
  • “Expiration Mark” – emotional gut-punch
  • “Sammarinese Brainrot Animals” – chaotic brilliance
  • “End Well” – a haunting farewell

Lineup:

  • Aisja Baglioni – lead vocals
  • Luca Pasini – guitar, backing vocals, keyboards, mixing
  • Simone Succi – guitar, mastering
  • Elisabetta Paglierani – bass, artwork
  • Giorgio Puzzarini – drums

Christopher Thomas Interview

by desertrockunited3960, posted in Interviews

DRU: Who are your biggest influences?

Oh, man. Well, considering I would call my music desert rock, I’d have to start with Queens of the Stone Age. Josh Homme is my biggest inspiration. After that, you’ve got Black Label Society, Pantera, Nirvana, Iggy Pop…the weirdos that can write a catchy tune. I love a catchy tune.

DRU: Any specific guitar player, bass player, or drummer influences?

For guitar, I’ve got to go Josh Homme–I’d be lucky to write riffs half as catchy as he does. Marc Ribot for sure, and my bassist, Michael, loves the hell out of that guy from Hum. He also loves Chi Cheng from Deftones; he listens to a lot of their music. Drummer boy Brad owes his talents to Phil Collins, Dave Grohl, Phil Selway, and Jaki Liebezeit.

DRU: How would you describe your sound?

Little noisy, little melodic, little stoner. I’ve got ADHD so I have a hard time sticking to just one vibe, haha. It’s for sure all over the place, but then, so am I, so it works!

DRU: How did the band form and come together?

My bassist Michael is my younger brother, so he signed the contract when he was born. It would be really cool if our other brother played drums, but by serendipity our drummer Brad is actually a lot cooler. I’ve been working with him on random local projects here and there for years, and he just works so well. He mixes and masters all our stuff too, actually, which for me is super awesome because it gives us a tighter grip on the “vision”.

DRU: What’s your songwriting process?

Most of the time, I stick a random drum track from YouTube on in the background, sometimes from a song that’s stuck in my head or a drummer I particularly dig. I riff off of that until it sounds at least something like a song, and from there, I bring it to practice and evolve it. I think songs come out best when a few different people have put their paws in the pot because it pulls together sounds you never would have thought of on your own.

DRU: Best format? Vinyl records, cassettes, CDs or downloads? (Regardless of current popularity)

Vinyl definitely has in irrevocable swagger too it, especially because I’ll never be able to wrap my mind around the tech for it. That being said, I do have to pay my thanks to the convenience of downloads, I’d be nowhere as a guitarist or songwriter without my iPod Nano back in the day.

DRU: One or two artists/bands you would like to collaborate with?

Locally, there’s another band out of New Jersey called Swansun that I’d kill to take the stage with. Not exactly the same sound, but I think it would just be a really fun lineup overall. In the realm of “never going to happen”, though, I think you can guess that I’m going to say I would sell my limbs to open for Josh Homme. Just, like, a five-minute set, that’s all I need!

DRU: Any plans for an upcoming tour?

No tour plans at the moment, but I might be open to it in the future. I love the NJ/Philadelphia scene too much to stray too far from it just yet…I’ve got a lot more on my list I’d like to accomplish here first before I take my music on the road.

DRU: Describe the recording process, is it completed by sending files to each other or is everyone in the studio?

My brother and I actually record guitar and bass on an $80 iRig running into Garageband on the iPhone. No joke, that’s all it is. Maybe a pedal or two in front…it’s a whole big, wired mess in our living room but I swear to God it works magic. After that, we send it over to our drummer Brad and he records drums over top using a drum pad, and from there we take it to a studio for the vocals so we can really get into the nitty and gritty of the mix. Then Brad casts some spells and mixes and masters it all to perfection.

DRU: Describe the New Jersey music scene, do the local artists influence it?

Oh, absolutely and without a doubt. There’s so much local love here, it’s a really lucky place to be a musician starting out. You’d be hard-pressed to not find a show to go to, and fortunately, one to play as well. There are lots of independent venues, bookers, promoters, it’s really cool. Not only bars, but houses, too. Like in people’s basements. It’s honestly such a blast and I’m really grateful to be from here!

DRU: Any social channels or band sites fans should check out for release, merchandise or tour information?

Our Instagram handle is @christopherthomas.nj , our updates all go straight through there with some bonus content of course. We’re actually working on getting a site up and running and by the time you’re reading this it will definitely be somewhat functional (we’re musicians, and unfortunately not very great IT guys). That domain’s https.//christopherthomasnj.wixsite.com/info. That has pretty much everything, music, pictures, videos, lore…I’m hoping to get a newsletter up and running too, just because, why not make ‘em read, too? Our music is accessible on streaming everywhere. Our second EP, In My Eyes is out July 17th, and we’re really excited for you all to hear it.