We Lost The Sea - Departure Songs (2015)

Once in while, a piece of music comes along that may serve to essentially correct any mood deviations you may have and put you, the listener, in the right state of mind no matter the outside influences.

Lately, for me, this album listed here has been the one to do just as stated. For the past three (?) months I guess, I have listened to it dozens, hell maybe even hundreds of times – a process that has morphed and evolved into embedding the music within the very structure of my thoughts. Coincidentally, this period has also been one of many changes and discoveries on a personal level, things that themselves are meant to break ground and get oneself out of any numbness that may prevail from…well…simply living.

As for the music itself, the genre would be post rock. But it’s not one of those dwindling projects without any sense of purpose aside from just existing, no, this is a rare case of abject flattery towards the listener, even with the trademark sound of being mostly instrumental. It has a beginning, a middle and an end, all embroiled in the controversies of matching spirituality with science. 

The tracks can be sad, thoughtful, uplifting and depressing at the same time, depending on your mood. But never, and I stress this, never do they become boring or showcase unnecessary parts of themselves, which is why I am truly grateful: because taking aside the subjective opinion already presented above, this collection of movements really is one of the uppermost layer of quality.

And the end track, well…the end track might just take anyone closer to their God, whatever/whoever it may be…

We Lost The Sea on Bandcamp

We Lost The Sea on Facebook

Factor Eight - Dust (2016)

I found out about this ensemble in the weirdest way possible: one of the tracks was playing as background music to one of those 'challenge type' fitness videos people do and post their results online (for what purpose exactly I do not know, it's mostly over training but that's not the point here).

Anyway, as you can imagine, I was more curious about the music than anything else, and I was lucky enough to find the artist and song name somewhere in the comments section, which inevitably lead me to the bandcamp page. 

As I see it, Dust is a (mostly) electronic instrumental, adventure type album that would work great as a background for fantastical story lines as the ones we're used to read or watch as children. Sincerely, I do not know how to better describe the sound and do it more justice than how it is already viewed by the artist himself (as quoted in the below paragraph).

'Dust', my first album, is a transition. A step from one path to another. A continuation of a journey. A farewell. A welcoming. Moving through works created at different times, it embodies change. The final and most recent track, 'Lisa', completes the story of the album. 'Lisa' reflects where I am now both artistically and personally as honestly as possible. It speaks what this transition is. I invite you to experience a piece of this journey, 'Dust'. 

The only nitpick I have is that one of the piano lines from the last track 'Lisa' seems to have jumped in straight from Muse's 'The 2nd Law: Isolated System' - however that might just be a coincidence rather than a well executed plot device. 

To wrap this up, here's one of the songs, if you like it then follow the links below for more.

Factor Eight on Bandcamp

Factor Eight on Facebook

Factor Eight on Soundcloud

Factor Eight on Twitter

Hands Off Gretel - The Works

For any of you feeling like 90's grunge is extinct, worry no more! Hands Off Gretel is a fresh band, only about one year old, with one EP under their belt and a follow up full length album set to be released in June 2016.

Check them out in the following video or in their social media outlets listed below:

Hands Off Gretel Official

Hands Off Gretel on Soundcloud

Hands Off Gretel on Facebook

Hands Off Gretel on Twitter

Sabrepulse - First Crush (2011)

Sometimes, randomly clicking on YouTube links does happen to maybe NOT get you to the dark side of the internet and actually bring out some good music to be heard.

In this case it happens to be a one man project that does the most with his available resources and happens to have made one of the most enjoyable electronic albums my ears have encountered up until now (and that's saying something, considering I rarely like electronic music).

So yeah, listen to this song and tell me you don't feel slightly uplifted afterwards.

Sabrepulse Official

Sabrepulse on Facebook

Sabrepulse on Bandcamp

Empire - Where the World Begins

Empire is a band which does right from their debut album what few other bands would ever hope to achieve during their career - meeting the complex arrangements of a metal outfit and showcasing them drenched in an alternative form. 

To get this right I imagine it takes enourmous amount of skill and personally I know only one other band that can pull this out - Ra.

To do this the frontman must be deviously talented, which is where Empire really shines. The first song I've heard from this album was 'Future, Past & Present' and only one minute into it I had a weird vibe of early era Muse combined with Ra (mostly Ra - due to the delivery of the singer). From there on it's instant gratification and the rest of the album does not stop to disappoint. 

My only nitpick would be that it could have used a little bit of soloing here and there, but after hearing the second part of 'All The Rage' I realised that this album doesn't really need unnecesary guitar wankery, as the voice of the frontman will do all the solo work needed.

With that said, do yourself a favor and listen to this little offering called 'Where the World Begins'. It might not make you a fan right away, but there's good, passionate music to be heard here.

Empire on Facebook

Empire on iTunes

Empire on Soundcloud