Singles round up Feb 2022
What’s hot in singles releases at the moment? Here are four of our favorites from recent times giving a flavour of what to expect from artists old and new….
Lady Rage – Because F You
The ladies really are raging on this punk metal bruiser of a song. Siren Sycho has a vocal quality that grabs you by the throat, puts you up against a wall and demands you listen…. Or else. Her angry rasp pitches perfectly with the distort on the guitar. The bassline and drums drive along holding you firm as Sycho vents. ‘Because F You’ screams intent. Lady Rage have laid down a marker, ignore them at your peril.
The Dark – Mr Macabre
It’s been out a while now but this song is just too good not to include in this debut round up. ‘Mr Macabre’ takes Sisters Of Mercy’s haunting ethereal rock to the next logical conclusion. The vocals are sung with real conviction. The sound is big, even grand but isn’t full of pomp. The mood is… well…. Dark. Think windswept castles and flaming wall mounted torches and you get the message. The Dark are here and they want your soul.
Billy Bio – Turn The Wounds
Hardcore hero Billy Bio is back with a new slice of heaviness that focusses on the effect of war both physical and mental. Like conflict this isn’t a subtle song, the video is straight to the point. Sometimes though you need to tell things straight and Billy excels at this. Musically sound with production strong on clarity it’s the vocals that really grab you with their focussed emotion (mostly anger). Turn The Wounds is a bit of a gem.
Skinny Lister – Bonny’s Eyes
Simple and effective is the best way to sum up Bonny’s Eyes. The innocence of childhood is explored here in an uncomplicated way that is heart melting. Parenthood, love and family run as a theme in an uplifting way. Played heavy on the folk side of things this is an almost ballad, a semi-acoustic treat that will fast become a Skinny Lister classic. Richly deserving of a wider audience than it might attract this has breakthrough single written all over it.
Feature image: Skinny Lister by Sara-Louise Bowrey
Reviews by Gary Trueman