Gatlin Black / Modern Spirit

  

The Skinny Review:
Gatlin Black’s seven-track debut Modern Spirit blends a classic rock feel with a modern edge, creating something that sounds both familiar and new. Crunchy, distorted guitars work with vocal layering to create a style that is gritty yet easy to listen to, while subtle genre crossovers keep things from feeling predictable. The EP shows the band turning real-life experiences into focused, creative songs..

In Their Own Words:
“Modern Spirit was both a statement and a turning point for Gatlin Black,” says the band. “To come out of the gate guns blazing, hoping to create a buzz but also to learn as much as we could about the songwriting/releasing process so we could become a music making factory. We chose to record with producer Jordon Zadorozny and engineer Rich Allen with a clear purpose: not just to capture the songs at a high level, but to push ourselves deeper into the craft of making records. The goal was never simply to release music; it was to become the kind of band that can write, perform, record, and produce our own work from the ground up. In that sense, Modern Spirit reflects the DIY mindset of the modern era—artists building and running their own creative engine.”

Listen Here:
Spotify
Soundcloud
Apple Music

Follow Here:
Website
Facebook
Instagram

Krooked Tongue / "Blood Shark"

   

The Skinny Review:
Krooked Tongue's latest single,“Blood Shark” kicks off with heavy guitar fuzz and distorted vocals that carry through the whole track. Fast drums, shifting sounds, and big, punchy choruses come together in a loud, perfectly frenzied way, with Oli Rainsford’s rough voice and sharp lyrics highlighting feelings of frustration and unease. The band's new album, I Know A Place, is out now.

In Their Own Words:
“‘Blood Shark’ is a jumper cable to the lazy and uninspired aspects of ourselves. A fat uppercut to our excuses for why we can’t, or don’t do the things we want to do. Everyone experiences nodus tollens at some point in their existence. Where it seems the vicissitudes of life are too turbulent to navigate. The walls are closing in and there’s not a ladder in sight. But we often need change to inspire the solution, taking a step back and approaching our inescapable slump from a different angle.

“‘Blood Shark’ is a plea to find a will so strong that it becomes in itself, unstoppable. The metaphor of the ‘Blood Shark’ encapsulates the foibles of our decisions. When it’s all said and done, when we’re being lowered into the ground, the ‘Blood Shark waits at the bottom of your grave’. It feasts on a life left unfulfilled, reassuring you with a beguiling grin that it's OK that you didn’t follow your dreams. It’s a villainous reminder that there’s still time to fight back and give the big fish an inedible final judgement."

Listen Here:
Spotify
Apple
YouTube

Follow Here:
Website
Facebook
Instagram

Ryan Thomas Smelle / "Nothing Left Of My Heart"

    

The Skinny Review:
“Nothing Left Of My Heart” comes across like a brooding farewell to someone, revealing a more layered and polished side of the artist’s usual folk sound. Ryan Thomas Smelle pairs heartfelt lyrics with catchy melodies, even with his music's new direction. The song captures the feeling of love slipping away, while sitting with the emotions and allowing yourself to feel them.

In Their Own Words:
“Every once in a while I’ll dive into an old song book to see if I could retool a song, and I found this gem,” he says. “Simple yet visual in its story. The bones were tracked in my own studio and when I shared them with Johnny Dee at Highfield Studios, another vision was unleashed and produced with more swagger. The final product runs parallel to my normal folk singer-songwriter flair with an element of alt pop.” 

Listen Here:
Spotify
Soundcloud
YouTube

Follow Here:
Facebook
Instagram

Succulents / "Underdog"

    

The Skinny Review:
Indie newcomers Succulents make their debut with "Underdog," a song shaped by a period of seclusion and introspection. The track feels personal and intimate, with a wistful warmth and a sense of nostalgia. Mixing a lo-fi style with rock riffs, the poppy harmonies bring it all together in a catchy and accessible indie package.

In Their Own Words:
“’Underdog’ centres on a mischievous protagonist deliberately trying to provoke their partner, delighting in pushing buttons and watching the sparks fly. There’s a darkly playful edge to the narrative, not unlike the gleeful antagonism found in The Twits, wrapped in warm, fuzzed-out indie-pop textures.
 
"It started life as an acoustic, finger picking song and then I realised it would be better louder. At the time I was also playing in a kraut-punk band called Chew Magna and I was really into Can and kraut-rock middle eights, so there’s an obvious nod to that time in my life too.”

Listen Here:
Spotify
Apple Music
YouTube

Follow Here:
Instagram

Arkells ft. GROUPLOVE / "Ride"

    

The Skinny Review:
Arkells return with “Ride,” the fourth single from their upcoming album, Between Us. The single is a light, summery track featuring GROUPLOVE, and leans into an easygoing, feel-good vibe. With GROUPLOVE’s striking vocals balancing beautifully with Arkells’ indie-pop style, the song feels both uplifting and familiar.

In Their Own Words:
“On its face, the song is about riding a bike in the city,” admits frontman Max Kerman. “That unbridled feeling of pedaling along to the song in your head.  But beneath the surface, the bike's a metaphor. When life tries to bribe you with a litany of material things, can a simple, utilitarian object like a bicycle be all you need? We asked GROUPLOVE to join us because when Christian and Hannah sing together, we feel a chemical reaction to their voices. That pure, explosive freedom we needed in the song.” 

Listen Here:
Spotify
Apple Music
YouTube Music

Follow Here:
Website
Facebook
Instagram

Matthew Ryan Jacobs / "Never Tear Us Apart"

    

The Skinny Review:
Matthew Ryan Jacobs recently released a deluxe version of his self-titled EP, featuring a few added acoustic version of his songs as well as a new cover of an old classic, INXS' "Never Tear Us Apart". While the song has been covered many times over the years, Matthew's take is a refreshing one, keeping true to the original but also keeping his signature sound and style. It's a beautiful indie folk version, full of depth.


In Their Own Words:
““Never Tear Us Apart” is a song I have loved for as long as I can remember,” he says. “My older sister had Kick on a cassette as a kid, and I remember always listening to this song on little ‘80s boom box in her room. I’ve covered it live a few times over the years, and decided to give it try in my studio. 
I tried to stay fairly true to the original in terms of arrangement and how the song builds but used the sounds and vibe that I would have used if I had written the song myself.”


Listen Here:
Spotify
Soundcloud
Apple

Follow Here:
Website
Facebook
Instagram

The Boxer Rebellion / "The Satellite Above"

   

The Skinny Review:
The latest single from The Boxer Rebellion's upcoming seventh album looks at how real human connection is slowly slipping away. The song is carried by a catchy groove and smooth, rolling basslines that open into bright, memorable choruses. With themes of jealousy and sadness, it reflects the pressure to compare ourselves to others and the gap between being constantly connected and still feeling alone.

In Their Own Words:
“It’s a reflection on the type of society we currently live in - constantly monitored, observed, and living for the curiosity and entertainment of others. Our every move is tracked, our every action recorded. We have forgotten what it is to live without such distraction, to truly be in the moment, and instead we are forced into this never-ending ‘carousel of envy’ as we measure our own lives against the lives of others.”

Listen Here:
Spotify
Apple
YouTube

Follow Here:
Website
Facebook
Instagram