Alternative Rock

ALBUM REVIEW: REBA MEYERS- CLOUDED WORLD

When I first heard Reba Meyers was going to be releasing solo material, I got quite excited. After seeing her other band Code Orange a while back, I could tell there was more to Reba than just this band. There was a ferociousness that was just waiting to be unleashed. We already knew her guitar playing was top notch but the vocals took it all to another level and showed that Reba was the one in that band that had “the whole package.” Even when Reb guested on the Greg Puciato song “Lowered,” you could tell that Reba was well on her own path. And now here we are with Reba’s first release as a solo artist, Clouded World. This six song EP is full of dark, moody and melodic grooves and deeply personal and poetic lyrics and vocals.

There are many things to unpack on this release. As I mentioned the lyrics are very personal and poetic. The vocal delivery is otherworldly. You definitely hear and feel all the words sung. This is one of my favorite things about artists like Reba, the authenticity is 100% real. Musically, there are loads of influences and inspirations packed into these songs. On one hand you have some very heavy rock driven songs that have this attitude and bite to it with soaring melodies on top. Then you have more delicate atmospheric songs that explore a more etherial side with a bit of electronic elements to further open the space. All while still being poetic.

Clouded World has fast become one of my favorite releases of 2025. I eagerly await Reba’s full length debut which will be out in 2026. The tour kicks off today, and I’m very excited to see Reba live and hear these songs come to life when the Los Angeles date comes up on August 24th. Do yourself a favor and put this record on and let it take you places you haven’t been in a while!

Overall Rating: A

Standout Tracks: ALL

Written By: Brian Lacy

Reba Meyers- Clouded World EP:

The Videos:

Clouded World:

Got Your Hold On Me:

Certain Uncertainty:

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: HEAVY HALO- DAMAGED DREAM

I love that feeling of putting an album on without any pre conceived thoughts and getting absolutely swept away by it. That’s exactly what happened the instant the first beat hit on Heavy Halo’s new album Damaged Dream. The moment I put this album on I was hooked. I’m not sure what I was looking for at the moment but, I knew this album was for me. Since I got this album, it has been in non stop rotation for me. Actually I’ve been aching to write about this album and share it with you all.

Heavy Halo’s sound is packed with so many things that I love like industrial, alternative rock, electronic elements and a nice splashing of gothic expression. Imagine if Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Cure and early New Order (Movement era) all combined forces to create music, that combination is what you get on Damaged Dream. Throughout the ten songs on this album you get lost in the ambience, pulsating beats, driving guitars and great soaring melodies that add the light to a dark setting. There are hooks aplenty found throughout Damaged Dream and they are more like ear candy. Lyrically this is a deeply reflective album that hits you in all the feels in a great way. It’s a more uplifting feeling than what most bands would tend to do.

The way this album flows from start to finish is like blood flowing. It’s quite the rush. There isn’t one song on here that feels out of place. Each track is drenched with this feeling that makes you want to get up and move. Not necessarily in a “dancing way” but, more so in a way that gets you revved up for taking on a day and conquering it. I’d love to pinpoint certain songs but, it’s better if you just listen to this album from start to finish. It’s one of those albums! I really love this album. So much so that it’s definitely in my top 5 of 2025! Do yourself a favor and take some time and let Heavy Halo rock your world!

Standout Tracks: THE ENTIRE ALBUM!

Overall Rating: A

Heavy Halo- Damaged Dream:


BAND OF THE WEEK: TREDICI

It’s always fun when people you know put out new music. The other day I heard a song by a friends band that has a really cool bluesy and alternative rock sound. It’s actually quite refreshing to hear a song, especially these days, that has these elements in it and be done so well. Allow me to introduce you to Tredici. This soulful bluesy rock band is quite the trip! The lush textures found throughout the song add interesting and dynamic levels while the vocals soar in a way that is almost cinematic. There is a lot more to come from Tredici and I’m getting quite excited about it! They make their stage debut on July 10 at The Mint in Los Angeles!

Check Out Tredici Online:

Instagram @tredici_band

Tredici- Spider Bite:

Band Of The Week: Lived-In

A while back a band reached out to me asking me to check out their music. If you send me something, I will always listen. What I heard from the band that sent me their album is a group that has harnessed the 90’s sound in a couple ways mixing alternative rock and what would become post-hardcore. Allow me to introduce you to Lived-In. Armed with guitars, drums, bass and vocals and a good dose of melody, Lived-In are on the right track. Their new album, Everything Is Just Money Away is an aggressive yet catchy record with a melodic tinge. One of the things I really enjoyed most about their album is the intensity that propels the record. Musically there’s a diversity of heaviness, quiet to loud and a great use of atmosphere to make the songs sound huge. If you are a fan of bands like Jawbox, Failure, and Handsome, you’ll dig Lived-In. You can catch Lived-In live at Corbin Bowl on Saturday September 23, 2023 as part of The Cobalt Presents monthly showcase!

Lived-In- Everything Is Just Money Away:


Lived In Online:

https://linktr.ee/lived_in

By: Brian Lacy

New Release: Tunic- Whispering

I was recently introduced to a band that really has me intrigued. They have a sound that is experimental while at the same time very hard charging. The “noise-rock” genre has been really exploding more and more lately and this band should be on your radar. Allow me to introduce you to Tunic. Hailing from Winnipeg, Canada, Tunic is armed with a sound that features an assault of pummeling drums, distorted bass, discordant guitar, and wild-eyed vocals. After listening to this band, I get a bit of an early Helmet vibe from the Strap It On era mixed with a little bit of Fugazi. So if you are into those two bands, this is right up your alley. The bands new single “Whispering” is chock full of bits of all the things that make this sub-genre what it is. The way they take experimental parts and add interesting melodies and thought provoking lyrics makes Tunic a must listen. Their new album Wrong Dream will be out on April 28 via Artoffact Records. I have to say, it’s really nice and refreshing to hear bands like Tunic try new things and get deeper into the sounds, inspirations and realness of what rock music is all about.

Tunic- Whispering:



PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM BELOW:

https://tunicband.bandcamp.com/album/wrong-dream

Anticipated Albums: Powder Pink & Sweet- Little Stories

I remember the first time I heard the term shoegaze. It was around the time that The Smashing Pumpkins released Siamese Dream and all these reviews I read and interviews kept referring to this new sub-genre called “shoegaze.” I thought what a strange term for a genre of music. Then it was explained to me (keep in mind I was only 7 or 8 when Siamese came out) and it made sense. Then later on I was exposed to the great My Bloody Valentine album, Loveless, and that’s when I truly found my deep fondness for shoegaze. Over the years the sub-genre has grown to include other elements from different genre’s making it quite a trip to listen to. There is one band that has combined shoegaze with dream pop, indie rock and a tinge of 90’s alternative rock that has captivated me. Allow me to introduce you to Powder Pink and Sweet. The band was formed in 2016 by the eclectic Cris Verso. And through the years since, Powder Pink and Sweet have carefully crafted a batch of hypnotic, dreamy and lush songs. Their upcoming EP, Little Stories, captures all the above and then some. The first single “Slightly Hopefull” is a dreamy and contemplative tune that provides quite the escape from the harsh realities of the COVID lockdown. Little Stories will be released Friday November 4th.

Powder Pink & Sweet- Slightly Hopeful:

PRE-ORDER THE EP Via BANDCAMP:

Unsung Masterpieces: Stabbing Westward- Darkest Days
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Back in 1998 while I was waiting for a new Nine Inch Nails record, an album was released by Stabbing Westward that would hold my attention for years to come. Darkest Days is the album I’m talking about. Stabbing Westward took their industrial influences a few steps further on this album without sacrificing their knack for writing catchy melodic songs. Singer Chris Hall’s anguish, pain and suffering all show through in his vocal performance. Something I found interesting about the album is that it’s actually a concept record. It’s made up of 4 parts,  with each depicting  a different emotional phase after a break up. The Tracks 1-4 is about sabotaging the relationship. Tracks 5-9 is about lust, hope, and longing. Tracks 10-12 is about hitting rock bottom after it’s all over. The final part is about recovery and self-respect. When I found that out a few years back, the album made a lot more sense to me. I’m sure most of you will remember the song “Save Yourself,” as it was the first single released for the album. But there is way more to the album than just that song. Songs like ” Everything I Touch,” “Drugstore,” “You Complete Me,” “Haunting Me,” “When I’m Dead,” “Torn Apart,” and “On Your Way Down” are absolute standouts. That’s not to say that the other songs aren’t as good, these ones just always seemed to have a lasting effect on me.

Stabbing Westward called it quits in the early 2000’s. Chris Hall went on to start the band The Dreaming. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them a few times over the years, and he is still one hell of a singer and frontman. During the early years of The Dreaming it wouldn’t be shocking to hear them play a couple Stabbing Westward songs live. It was announced recently that Stabbing Westward will be reuniting for a show to celebrate their 30th anniversary, but in Chicago. Let’s hope it goes well, so we can get a full on reunion tour!!!

 

Stabbing Westward- Darkest Days:

Unsung Masterpieces: Red Hot Chili Peppers- One Hot Minute
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The year is 1995 and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to release their follow up to Blood Sugar Sex Magik. John Frusciante left the band and was replaced by Dave Navarro. By adding Dave Navarro, the Chili Peppers sound changed rather drastically. The lyrics grew darker, exploring the perils of drug use, depression, grief and many other themes along those lines. Navarro also added a heavier approach with his style of guitar playing. Granted this album was a bit of a detour from what the band had put out with Blood Sugar, One Hot Minute has become an album that with age, has become a true unsung masterpiece in the bands catalog. The history of the making of One Hot Minute is quite the story. Anthony Kiedis had relapsed, thus causing a slow down in the writing and recording of the album. But the end result was something special. Songs like “Warped,” “Aeroplane,” “My Friends,” “Tearjerker,” “One Hot Minute,” and “Transcending” are stellar compliments to a very underrated album.

One thing I’ve noticed over the years listening to the album is that Dave Navarro really brought something  special and different to the band. He brought a different style to the band than what John Frusciante did, leaving a signature mark on the one album he did with the band. Interestingly, One Hot Minute isn’t an album that the Chili Peppers visit often. In fact they have even come out to say that “We don’t really feel that connected to that record anymore. No special reason, not to say we would never play those songs but we don’t feel that emotionally connected to that music right now.” Which is quite sad, considering how good the album really is. Hopefully there will be a time again that they revisit some of these songs.

What do you think of One Hot Minute?

 

Red Hot Chili Peppers- One Hot Minute:

 

 

 

 

Unsung Masterpieces: Smashing Pumpkins- Adore
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The process of following up a career defining album is a very serious task. The amount of pressure that is put on a band to follow that up with a great deal of success is overwhelming. The Smashing Pumpkins follow up to Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness, Adore is one of the most daring and intriguing albums in the bands discography. Recorded following the death of Billy Corgan’s mother and his divorce, this was a significant change of style from the bands guitar driven albums. Adore saw the band venture into more electronic territory. This was in part to drummer Jimmy Chamberlain being fired from the band before the recording process. Instead the drums on the album were cut from drum machines and the assistance of drummer Matt Walker who toured with the band following Chamberlains release. During this time as well, the bands image shifted toward a more darker gothic sensibility.

Adore is the type of album that when you first listen to it, you are taken aback by it. There is a purity and solemnness to it, that delves even deeper than the bands previous works. Songs like “To Sheila,” “Crestfallen,””For Martha,” exhibit this notion. The more electronic driven songs like “Ava Adore” and “Perfect” show some similarities to classic Pumpkins material. Then there are songs like “Tear,” “Appels & Oranjes,””Pug,” “Behold! The Night Mare,” that show an added maturity to Billy Corgan’s writing.

Adore was obviously not the album that fans of the band wanted, but it was necessary to reinvigorate the band to come to terms with their issues. Over time, Adore has been one of those albums that with time and age has truly become a wonderful album. It really has a sense that if you’ve lived life and been through hell to an extent, then this album will really hit the mark. Take it for another listen, and you’ll see what I mean.

Smashing Pumpkins- Adore:

Unsung Masterpieces: Audioslave- Revelations
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When Audioslave broke on to the music scene they were met with very high expectations. Their debut album was a really great album, full of great songs and a renewed sense of energy for each other the members. Their second album was hit and miss. There were some really good songs but as a whole it just didn’t come across as well. When Audioslave released their third album Revelations, they finally hit the mark and found their sound. This would be their final album sadly. Rather than working with Rick Rubin on this album the band chose Brendan O’Brien, with whom both Rage Against The Machine and Soundgarden have worked with in the past. Brendan was able to really capture the essence of what this band is and was. There are more influences on this album as well delving into funk and soul. This was also the first album which Chris Cornell was sober during the making of. Audioslave did not tour on this album, instead they broke up.

Revelations though as their swan song is brilliant. The first song “Revelations” really sets the tone for the album. It’s such a great song. The songs “Wide Awake” and “Shape of Things to Come” were prominently featured in Michael Mann’s horrible film adaption of Miami Vice. Both of these songs are tremendous. “Wide Awake,” evokes some political angst as well. The song is about Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath. “Until We Fall,” is another song that really shows the progression of Audioslave. The closing song “Moth” is a bit of foreshadowing for what was about to happen to the band. The song is powerful and one of the most inspiring songs on the album. Chris Cornell’s voice really shines on this song (along with “Wide Awake”).

The entire band was clicking on all cylinders one this album. It’s shame they couldn’t last longer. Thankfully there have been news reports as of late that both Tom Morello and Chris Cornell said they would be open to working together again. Let’s hope so. I would love to see Audioslave return.

Audioslave- Revelations: