Arn-Identified Flying Objects Alien Friend caught me entirely off guard with his single, "John in Roses' Deep". Since setting off on his own in 2020, the Swedish solo artist and former REDMOON singer and guitarist has frequently stirred acoustic Americana and electric power pop together. Here, though, he unearths a pitch-black, traditional murder ballad. https://open.spotify.com/track/0t1vuoXfweiH62utynIwEt?si=aIBBxd2ESI-DrcivYHMIrg The track revolves around a rhythmic, stubbornly cyclical melody that sets...

RISE dropped their frantic single, "Always," marking an intensely energized, fiercely passionate turn for the Liverpool quartet. Known for splicing high-tempo melodic rock with sharp pop-punk and progressive rock flourishes, the dynamic four-piece construct a heavy, wildly distorted, and relentlessly rhythmic foundation here. https://open.spotify.com/track/70t8yCBz4KZqbAzqW05L2z?si=99c7e3a7e6d94d18 Sam Kinley (aka stayMellow) holds it down on bass and lead vocals, locked in step with Alex Mahoney’s furious drumming. Around them,...