MangoWave

Picture Credit: LaMar Price   Sean Grinsell - R is for Redemption Release Date: August 20, 2021 Label: selfrelease Format: Digital Length: 23:40 Genre: Art Rock Origin: Chicago , IL , USA There are countless ways how to narrate a story. The tools alone, that can be used to create a narrative, cannot be enumerated. Chicago's Sean Grinsell  is an artist who provides us with a story that is told via 23 minutes of rock music. The EP "R is for Redemption" consists of five tracks that paint gorgeous images and stimulate stunning plot lines. Comparable to an expressionist painter, Grinsell  is taking the recipients by their hands and lets them participate in the artwork's interpretation and direction. The instrumental EP leaves plenty of space for everyone's own experience and perspective, and therefore becomes a holistic piece of art - a psychedelic collaboration of artist and recipients. R is for Redemption by Sean Grinsell 'Rogue', 'Rush', 'Rift...

Picture Credit: Crimson Clean Sweep   Crimson Clean Sweep - Hexes Release Date: May 07, 2021 Length: 03:38 Genre: Metalcore / Alternative Metal Origin: Viola , Illinois , USA Viola-based quintet Crimson Clean Sweep are one of those bands that do not merge or combine genres. Instead, they just run through the boundaries between styles with the power of an army of jackhammers. If you are interested in a modern approach to raw and brachial music, you are ready the right post. In the press kit, Crimson Clean Sweep say they "sound like The Hex Girls if The Hex Girls were boys, tuned really low, and screamed". Well, that is one way to describe it. Crimson Clean Sweep's "Hexes" is a savage mix, combining the raw force of Nu Metal with merciless Metalcore blows, a dark Alternative Metal atmosphere, and the morbid aftertaste of Gothic Metal. So, Alternative Gothic Nu Metalcore? Crimson Clean Sweep bring Nu Metal to a new level. Fans of raging moshpits and sheer loudness...

Picture Credit: Jack of None Artwork: Maxine Syjuco Jack of None - The Purpose of the Moon Release Date: November 13, 2020 Label: selfrelease Format: Digital Length: 27:47 Genre: Math Rock / Spoken Word Origin: Chicago (Illinois) , USA / Manila , Philippines Philippine-American band Jack of None is sort of a family project. The three band members are the siblings Maxine Syjuco (lyrics, poetry, vocals), A.G. Syjuco (guitar, bass, synthesizers, programming), and Julian Syjuco (lead guitar). Since their last EP “ The Tattle Tale Heart ” (2017) was rewarded “Best EP – Eclectic” by the Independent Music Awards, Jack of None has not released any new music until 2020’s lockdown gave them a good reason to write and record seven very personal tracks. This process took place online for the major part because A.G. is situated in Chicago, Illinois, while Maxine and Julian ’s domicile is at Philippine capital Manila. “The Purpose of the Moon” is an extraordinarily artistic release. The avan...

Phil Mitchel Band - White Horse Rider Release Date: Noveber 14, 2015 Length: 04:51 Genre: Classic Rock / AOR Origin: Chicago ( Illinois ), USA The “White Horse Rider” is a powerful symbol in past, recent and contemporary imagery. Not to be confused with the White Walkers from Game of Thrones, the “White Horse Rider” has different meanings according to the cultural background there are used in. As the Phil Mitchell Band is from Chicago, Illinois, it is kind of obvious that the band refers to the very first president of the United States of America, George Washington. And hence, the “White Horse Rider” is depicted as a benevolent, prospective, and wise person with two open ears, two open eyes and a strong sense for a bright and happy future. The Phil Mitchell Band is providing us with an epic Classic Rock ballad praising heroic people who are fighting for a better future. The example of George Washington is of course a very American approach to this. But if you regard it figuratively...

Phil Mitchell Band - Never let it die Release Date: October 22, 2020 Length: 04:44 Genre: Classic Rock / AOR Origin: Chicago ( Illinois ), USA If you are looking for some soulful and emotional hard rock, you came to the right place because here is The Phil Mitchell Band with their ballad ‘Never let it Die’. For this impressive song, the Phil Mitchell Band has teamed up with Alvaro Soto . The virtuous guitar player beautifies the song with his eccentric soli. Soto ’s rapid finger player perfectly merges into the smooth but strong background of this hard rock ballad. Beneath the Santana-like virtuosity there is a sweet and powerful arrangement of Hard Rock and Symphonic Rock with a strong tendency towards Adult Oriented Rock. The Phil Mitchell Band’s ‘Never let it die’ is featured on their recent album “A Better World” which came out in 2020. The selfreleased album features several guest musicians of high quality. Besides Alvaro Soto and his artsy guitar soli on ‘Never let it die’, ...

Picture Credit: Of Wolves Of Wolves - Balance Release Date: 04 July, 2020 Label: Trepanation Recordings Format: CD / Tape / Digital Length: 38:29 Genre: Post Hardcore / Sludge Origin: Chicago (Illinois) , USA Music is therapy. It is a release from stress and negativity. It also is the language by which feelings and emotions can be expressed when words do not come up to it. One of those musical productions that conveys riddance of negativity is Of Wolves' album "Balance". This review should have been published thsi summer but it somehow got lost in the dust of 2020. My apologies. "Balance" is dense with emotions and moods. Of Wolves play powerful Post Hardcore with rough breaks and a heavy Sludge impact. Brutal and distorted riffs grind on the beats of a chequered and intense drumset. Versatile structures interchange between massive breakdowns, forceful speed attacks and disharmonically melodic bridges. Each songs urges your eardrums to expect the unexpected. An...