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Great to catch this track from one of my favorite UK bands, The Trusted. These four lads from Southend-On-Sea are going on seven years of existence with over two dozen releases and what’s got to be close to a hundred gigs. What I love about this track is that you can hear a bit of that early angst that was prevalent in their 2017 single “Boy,” and a bit heavier than their 2021 release “Vellichor.” “Vellichor” displays their growth as musicians, and Tom’s skill as a singer and melody writer really shine in the following releases “Arkansas “ and “Terrible Fight.” “Doomsday” takes all of it to the next level - let’s check it out. Love the vocal effect intro and dig the full band intro. Great, heavy swinging riff. Production is top notch and when the verse come in , Tom’s melody is a perfectly wound rope around the band that extends through each elevated chorus, and the breakdown after the solo. There are some nice extra touches in the mix that add some great depth to the sound - I recommend checking out this track with a decent set of cans. From a lyrical perspective, it’s a heavy topic, and Tom makes you believe it. “This song is one that hits close to home for all of us. It's a powerful reminder of the chaotic world we live in and the toll it can take on our mental health.” Tom’s delivery is right on point with that angst. I really love hearing how great bands started, grew and continue to get better, and can’t get over how great I think his delivery is on this track. Go back and listen to some of those earlier tracks I referenced above and then listen to this - you’ll see what I mean. You’ll also notice a considerable growth in the depth of their lyrics. On the bass, Fin’s playing is money. Love his choice of line, his pick playing and his tone. He’s not bragging, he doesn’t have to, he’s just holding it down perfectly in sync with Dave on drums. Fin and Dave have a solid vibe that in some settings has reminded me of Cold Play and U2, but here it’s simpler and heavier - a bit of Seattle, and a bit of Blur. That type of playing takes maturity. Dale on guitar is the wildcard in this setting - his tones are what can transform every song to easily move between genres and styles, and it shines in the solo after the second chorus. The track was record, mixed and produced by Rees Broomfield of SS2 Studios - he did a hell of a job in keeping the parts and tones clean. The ending comes as a surprise, but it’s perfect when you consider the topic, the lyrics and the delivery. It’s another reason to love this band and hope they continue. Nice job lads, hope to see you in the States soon - you have a place to crash in Nashville for your tour. ;)

The Rock Song We Need Right Now, “Hold The Line.” On one of my podcasts this month, I made the comment that I was surprised no good bands (or political songs) really came out of the P45 era. With all that aggression, with the massive cultural shift of going from President 44 to President 45 - you would think at least SOMETHING would come up. Well, thanks to Nate Johnivan and Death by Lions out of Michigan, I stand corrected. Death by Lions is a heavy rock quartet, which each member being a part of several other bands. The beautiful thing about a band like this, is that you can really zero in on the sound that the BAND wants to create and employ, because everybody has other musical options they’re pursuing to keep their creative souls fulfilled. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to find some of these guys playing in a folk, jazz or EDM project - that’s the way it works with proficient musicians. Let’s dive into the track! It’s is an all-start, key of D, BPM about 159 BPM. You can tell right off the bat this thing is beautifully produced. There’s great separation in the mix with the multiple guitars, and the band (presumably self-produced) does a great job of applying the proper layers all throughout the track. Case in point, notice how the track starts with 1 guitar in your right ear, then when Nate comes in signing, they add the second guitar in the left speaker. When they move to the back half of that first verse, the dueling guitars take different parts, with the lead now switching over to the left. Smart production there, nice building. Notice too how absolutely clean those drums sound, in the midst of such heavy guitar tones, and how the bass fits nicely in the mix. This is just as good as anything you’d hear coming out of the best studios in LA, NYC or Nash, kudos to the engineer. When the chorus hits, it’s a beautiful chorus of gang vocals, akin to Paramore (“That’s What You Get”) or A Day to Remember (“The Downfall of Us All”), but much closer to AC/DC. Lyrically, if you follow along with what Nate is singing about, the vocal production makes perfect sense. As the song progresses into the second verse, I love how they give the listener a little bit of a break with everyone dropping out and the vocals coming through a megaphone - similar to a rally. Lyrically, you owe it to yourself to dive into what Nate is saying, by the “sheer magnitude of it all.” His comments on what cheap TVs have done to society, the well observed points that everyone has chosen sides, the donation of blood and how we’re in a cycle that’s reminiscent of a 100 year flood. Johnivan’s command of language is stunning. His ability to weave a tale and keep the listener engaged is exceptional. Via email he told me, “I find it hard to articulate complex thoughts and have it still be fun to listen to, and this one I'm able to get my point across without feeling like I'm too on the nose with it. I also see it becoming more and more relevant as we get closer to the black hole that is the upcoming election.” I agree completely, in some respects he left it vague enough that either side could claim this song as an anthem - the mark of an exceptional writer. This 2:56 power anthem culminates with an all out call to action. I gives me visions of Rage Against the Machine and The Clash (“the only band that ever mattered”), working together together to change the world. In so many respects, this is the rock song we need right now. Check it out on Wavlake and send them some #Sats!

One Of Nashville’s Best Tennessee native Bonner Black is one of the most underrated and talented songwriters in Nashville. Her unique blend of “Americana Pop” combines the acoustic elements that Nashville loves with a splash of modern pop and a lyrical style that is more realistic and thoughtful than the painful constrains of Nashville's writing machine. I first saw her perform at City Winery for a “Girls of Nashville” show in March of 2020 and have been a follower ever since. I love the tales she weaves, the vulnerability she displays in her writing, and the way she uses Social Media to highlight not only her music, but her quirky sense of humor and what its like to live in Middle Tennessee. Here’s a quick review of her latest two tracks - let’s check it out: I'm Not Your Girl is one of the better examples of how to build a track that I’ve ever heard. It’s in G, about 155 and starts off with some great visuals over a sparse arrangement of an acoustic, a Rhodes giving hints of the melody, and a buried downstroke riff that starts to build the tension. She and producer Jake Ohlbaum take their time with the build and playfully pull you along for 1:02 before the first chorus hits you. When it does, that four-on-the-floor pattern is perfect - you don’t need anything else - and the hook sets in deep. I LOVE how wordy the chorus is, every line is a perfectly delivered uppercut to the “less is more” mantra that Nashville loves to preach (in addition to 3 minute songs, 8 bar solos and repetitive bridges). The second verse keeps that kick going, with a nice change halfway through that changes again with the Pre. Note how well they added just enough instrumentation to keep working the build, while dealing with the three different kick patterns used. Great arrangement, great production! With the second chorus, the accents they hit are brilliant and you can feel your heartrate rising as the chorus quickly becomes an anthem. It’s the perfect launch for a bridge that continues the rush of emotion Bonner is singing about, and that also brings back those accents from the rhythm section that are perfectly placed. As we get to the final chorus, everything explodes in full tilt and her vocals are spot on - from the lead delivery to the backgrounds. It’s not hard to visualize a massive crowd of women singing this chorus along with her. Just like the last song, Catch 22 starts off with a lyrical visual that stops you in your tracks. We’re in D, about 84 BPM, and starting out with her vocals and a gentle electric tone. The story is deeply personal, sensual and heartbreaking. The full band doesn’t drop in until after the first chorus, and that’s the way it should be against the backdrop of these lyrics. As the band comes in, I love the mix that Jake employs to slightly bury some of those leading lines that keep pulling the thread. Well done, sir. From a form standpoint, the back half of the chorus is the best part for me. The first half sets up the emotion, but the back half, with its change of delivery and cadence, brings the point home. With the bridge, its quicker delivery helps to imply the tension and pain of the situation. Unlike “I’m Not Your Girl,” the band takes a back seat to the lyrics and story, and that’s exactly the way it should be. There’s no solo or feature in this track - it doesn’t need it. The tones, mix and instrumentation are exceptional, and staying perfectly in the lane of previous songs like “Take Me On” and my favorite, “Light Me Up.” In a world of boring 3 minute songs built around tired chord progressions and old tropes, Bonner is a breathe of fresh air. Both of these songs clock in around four minutes and would fall apart if edited to what the industry would want them to be. The song and its story will always be more important than the silly rules of Nashville and LA, and Bonner and Jake have definitely figured that out. There's a difference between listening to music and experiencing it, and Bonner's writing helps you do the latter. We need more of this, and Bonner deserves to be on the biggest stage with that select group of true artists who have been able to achieve mass success. Can’t wait to see her perform again soon.